Columbia  (Hntoetfitp 

intljeCttpofm^gork 

THE   LIBRARIES 


Bequest  of 

Frederic  Bancroft 

1860-1945 


*. 


10£& 


Ha  i  ' 


BISHOP  CHASE'S 


REMINISCENCES: 


AN 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 


SECOND  EDITION: 

COMPRISING  A  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  EVENTS  IN  THE  AUTHOR'S  LIFE 

TO  A.  D.  1847. 


WITH  A  PORTRAIT  AND  7CUR  ENGRAVINGS. 


IN    TWO    VOLUMES. 

VOL.   I. 


Sebents^tlrst  $salm,  IT,  18. 

— ♦ — 


BOSTON: 
JAMES  B.  DOW,  141  WASHINGTON  STREET. 

NKW  YORK:  STANFORD  ft  SWORDS      PHILADELPHIA:  Q.  S.  APPLETON.     HART- 
FORD: BROWN  ft  PARSONS,    RICHMOND,  fA.'.  NASH  .V  WOODHOUSE. 
CHARLESTON,  S.  C. :  SAMUEL  HART,  SEN. 

1848. 


t> 


\h 


92  7.*? 

C  3263 


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W.    / 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1847, 

BY   PHILANDER   CHASE, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


•  •  ■  '  .  *   * 


t         »    • 


STEREOTYPED   BY 

GEORGE   A.  CURTIS; 

NEW  ENGLAND  TYPE  AND   STEREOTYPE  FODNDERY, 
BOSTON. 


PRINTED   BY   WM.  A.  HALL    &  CO. 


*/££> 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  writer  of  the  following  pages,  having  been  often  desired 
by  his  friends  to  note  down  the  various  incidents  of  his 
chequered  life,  began,  in  the  winter  of  A.  D.  1840,  to  write  with 
a  view  to  gratify  this  wish.  The  calls  of  a  large  correspon- 
dence, his  duty  to  his  family  and  diocese,  subjected  the  work 
to  frequent  and  long-continued  interruptions.  The  moments 
devoted  to  it  were  snatched  from  hours  deemed  necessary  to 
healthy  repose.  It  was  not  his  design  at  first  that  the  result 
of  his  labors  should  be  given  to  the  world  during  his  lifetime, 
but  yielding  to  the  suggestion  that  it  would  increase  the  inter- 
est which  the  Christian  world  were  beginning  to  feel  in  Jubi- 
lee college,  he  determined  to  publish  what  he  had  written, 
quarterly,  in  numbers  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  pages 
each.  This  method  was  then  thought  necessary,  as  the  work 
was  still  unfinished.  Its  progress  was  much  delayed,  and 
five  years  passed  over  before  he  was  able  to  complete  the 
seventh  number.  Being  published  in  this  manner,  and  at 
unequal  periods  of  time,  they  were  a  source  of  expense  to 
him ;  yet  the  main  object  was  attained, — a  greater  interest  was 
felt  for  the  infant  college  to  which  he  had  given,  and  to  which 
he  will  continue  to  devote,  his  latest  energies.  In  two  differ- 
ent instances  was  it  said  by  those  personally  unknown  to  him, 
UI  have  read  your  Reminiscences,  and  send  you  five  hundred 
dollars  for  your  college" 

The  present  edition  is  designed,  if  possible,  to  revive  and 

A* 


VI  INTRODUCTION. 

continue  the  sympathy  hitherto  felt  for  the  writer  in  his  pub- 
lic labors. 

It  is  presented  to  the  reader,  he  hopes,  in  a  form  not  unac- 
ceptable. It  will  be  found  to  embrace  all  that  is  contained  in 
the  seven  numbers,  with  several  hundred  pages  added  new ; 
bringing  down  the  history  of  the  writer  to  the  time  when  he 
plucked  the  first  flower  from  the  rose  planted  by  his  own 
hand,  through  God's  help,  and  to  His  glory,  in  the  far  west  of 
Illinois. 

As  the  work  progressed,  it  changed  somewhat  its  charac- 
ter. From  being  simple  "  reminiscences,"  in  which  memory 
served  to  guide  him  alone,  he  had  resort  to  records  which 
were  preserved  of  the  later  periods  of  his  life. 

In  matters  where  his  own  character  was  concerned,  he  has 
been  more  careful  to  state  facts  than  to  draw  conclusions. 

A  large  part  of  this  work  consists  of  correspondence.  His 
own  letters  to  his  wife  form  a  diary  of  events  as  they  occur- 
red, and  a  record  of  impressions  as  they  were  made  at  the 
time.  Those  extracts  which  he  is  permitted  to  give  of  the 
letters  of  his  English  friends,  he  considers  will  give  a  perma- 
nent character  and  value  to  the  book.  Replete  with  pious 
sentiments,  their  fragrance  will  not  die.  If  any  part  of  the 
work  seems  to  the  reader  to  be  occupied  with  matters  not 
generally  made  public,  let  him  remember  that  the  writer  has 
ever  relied  upon  his  openness,  and  the  freedom  with  which  he 
has  communicated  information  concerning  his  public  acts, 
as  well  as  other  testimonies  of  honesty,  to  neutralize  the  evil 
designs  of  those  who  would  (had  they  the  power)  injure  him 
in  the  estimation  of  good  men. 

It  may  be  that  personal  friendship  will  chiefly  induce  those 
who  take  up  these  volumes  to  read  them  through,  but  at 
some  future  day,  if  not  now,  many  things  herein  stated  will 
be  of  interest  to  those  who  shall  follow,  and  reap  where  he 


INTRODUCTION.  Vn 

has  sown.  Let  the  reader  give  glory  to  the  Giver  of  all  grace, 
that  He  hath  crowned  the  labors  of  his  servant  with  that 
degree  of  success  to  which  he  has  hitherto  attained ;  that  any 
fortress  exists  (however  feebly  manned)  in  the  midst  of  spirit- 
ual enemies,  whose  great  aim  is  to  destroy  the  faith  ere  it 
takes  root  in  our  western  lands.  Let  him  ask  himself  if  he 
has  done  his  part,  as  a  good  soldier  of  Christ,  towards  reinforc- 
ing it ;  at  least,  let  him  pray  for  one  who  must  soon  be  called 
to  render  his  account,  but  is  yet  spared  to  give  him  the  bless- 
ing of  an  aged  Bishop  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 

Philander  Chase. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   I. 

Page 

Genealogy  —  Settlements  in  Massachusetts  and  on  Connecticut  river  — 
The  first  white  woman  above  Fort  No.  4, 1 

CHAPTER    II. 

The  writer's  birth  —  Early  impressions — Story  of  the  pine-apple,  or  the 
fatal  effects  of  early  cherished  covetousness, 7 

CHAPTER   III. 

Providential  indications  of  the  Divine  will  —  Enters  college  and  becomes 
acquainted  with  the  Prayer-book  —  Graduates  and  goes  to  Albany  — 
Appointed  a  missionary  —  The  power  of  sympathy,  or  the  story  of  the 
young  Highlander, 14 

CHAPTER   IV. 
His  missionary  labors  in  New  York  State, 26 

CHAPTER    V. 

Fragment  of  a  sermon  —  Rev.  Davenport  Phelps  recommended  by  the 
writer  to  holy  orders  —  Story  of  the  young  lawyer, 35 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Discourse  on  the  death  of  Gen.  Alexander  Hamilton, 45 

CHAPTER   VII. 
Removes  to  Louisiana  —  Original  documents  of  the  first  planting  of  the 
Church  there, 54 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Returns  for  his  family  —  Island  of  A  baco  — Excessive  tenderness  —  Ship- 
wreck—English  patriotism  —  The  writer  commences  a  school  — Negro 
Jack, 64 

CHAPTER   IX. 
A  perilous  adventure, 76 

CHAPTER   X. 
Scenes  in  New  Orleans  —  Sickness  of  the  writer  —  Increase  of  his  school  — 
Leaves  New  Orleans, 92 


X  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    XI. 

Page 

"He  begun  it,"  or  the  story  of  the  boy  and  the  looking-glass  —  Returns  to 
Vermont —  State  of  the  Church  —  Removes  to  Hartford  —  Bishop  Jarvis 
—  Anecdote  of  Bishop  Seabury  —  Days  of  sunshine, 102 

CHAPTER   XII. 

The  death  of  the  righteous,  or  some  account  of  the  last  days  of  the  writer's 
parents  —  Leaves  Hartford  —  Perils  on  his  journey  to  Ohio, 116 

CHAPTER    XIII. 

Arrives  in  Ohio  and  commences  his  missionary  labors  —  "Writes  for  his 
family, 127 

CHAPTER    XIV. 
Familiar  letters  of  the  writer  and  his  wife, 133 

CHAPTER    XV. 
Organization  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Ohio, 147 

CHAPTER    XVI. 
Some  account  of  the  writer's  son  Philander, 161 

CHAPTER    XVII. 

Third  year  of  the  Church  in  Ohio  —  The  little  square  book  —  Domestic 
embarrassments, 170 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 
Fourth  and  fifth  year  of  the  Church  in  Ohio, 177 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

First  thoughts  of  going  to  England  —  Letter  to  the  Bishops  —  Sets  off,  and 
arrives  at  Kingston.  New  York, 182 

CHAPTER    XX. 

Of  the  time  in  the  city  of  New  York  previous  to  the  writer's  sailing  for 
England  —  Opposing  friends  —  Gulf  stream, 194 

CHAPTER    XXI. 
Letters  at  sea  —  Arrival  in  England  —  Additional  letters, 209 

CHAPTER    XXII. 
Reception  in  London, 224 

CHAPTER    XXIII. 

Scenes  in  London  —  The  writer  becomes  acquainted  with  Lord  Gambier 
and  Rev.  J.  Pratt, 236 

CHAPTER    XXIV. 

Journal  continued  —  Thoughts  on  a  sermon  —  The  writer's  reflections  on 
his  birth-day  —  Interesting  interviews  with  Rev.  Mr.  Pratt, 252 


CONTENTS.  XL 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

Page 

Glance  at  the  past  —  A  question  answered  —  Journal  continued  —  A  reli- 
gious tea-party  —  The  close  of  an  old  year  in  London  —  Important  move- 
ment in  favor  of  the  writer  —  Visits  Manchester  again, 266 

CHAPTER    XXVI. 

Second  visit  to  Manchester  —  Liverpool  —  Derby  —  Leeds  —  Returns  to 
Manchester  —  Visits  several  other  places  —  Extraordinary  propositions  — 
Minute  of  agreement, 285 

CHAPTER    XXVII. 
Halifax  —  Bradford — Huddersfield  —  Proposed  "treaty  of  peace  between 
three," 304 

CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

Journal  continued —  The  writer  returns  to  London  —  Is  introduced  to  Lord 
Kenyon  —  Forms  many  new  acquaintances, 316 

CHAPTER    XXIX. 

Letter  of  Rev.  Robert  Marriott  —  Interesting  interview  with  the  Bishop  of 
St.  David's  —  Reflections  —  State  of  England  on  the  slavery  question  — 
The  writer's  slave  Jack  again  introduced  to  the  reader  —  Death  of  his  son 
Philander  —  An  old  letter  brought  to  light, 326 

CHAPTER    XXX. 

Journal  continued  —  The  writer  visits  the  Magdalen  hospital  —  Visits  the 
Bishops  of  St.  David's,  Durham  and  London,  and  Archbishops  of  Canter- 
bury and  York  — Visits  Greenwich,  Stowe  Nine  Churches,  Cotesbatch,  etc. 
—  Assemblage  at  Lord  Bexley's, 340 

CHAPTER    XXXI. 

Munificence  of  Lady  Rosse  —  Journal  continued  —  Lord  Kenyon — Dr. 
Gaskin  —  Bishops  of  St.  Asaph's,  Chester,  and  Durham  —  Remarkable 
reception  by  the  latter — Christian  benevolent  societies  —  Strong  testi- 
mony in  favor  of  the  Church  of  England  liturgy, 352 

CHAPTER    XXXII. 

Journal  continued  —  A  new  opponent  —  Various  scenes  and  incidents  — 
Letter  of  Rev.  James  Dallin, 360 

CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

Journal  continued  —  Stoke  Newington  —  Threatening  aspect  of  "  the  oppo- 
sition "  —  Cambridge  university, 373 

CHAPTER    XXXIV. 
The  writer's  visit  to  Nayland  and  Horksley  —  Return  to  London  —  Visit  to 
Oxford, 385 

CHAPTER    XXXV. 
Various  scenes  and  incidents  —  Visit  to  Mrs.  Hannah  More  —  Preparations 
for  returning  to  America, 402 


XH  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   XXXVI. 

Page 

Return  to  America  —  Arrival  in  New  York  —  Meets  his  family  at  Kings- 
ton —  Journey  to  Ohio  —  Arrives  at  Worthington  —  Convention  at  Chil- 
licothe, 415 

CHAPTER    XXXVII. 
Replies  to  friends  in  England  — Additional  letters  from  them, 428 

CHAPTER   XXXVIII. 
Difficulties  in  the  location  of  the  seminary  —  Convention  at  Zanesville,  1825,  441 

CHAPTER    XXXIX. 
Address  to  the  convention,  1826  —  First  visit  to  the  future  site  of  the  semi- 
nary—  Interesting  interview  with  the  Mohawk  Indians — Results  of  a 
visit  to  the  East  —  Resolution  and  act  of  the  convention, 456 

CHAPTER    XL. 
Human  nature  exposed  in  an  attempt  to  raise  subscriptions  —  Important 
declaration  of  the  English  trustees  —  Doings  of  the  convention  held  in 
Columbus,  June,  1826  —  Remarks  thereon, 472 

CHAPTER    XLI. 

Takes  possession  of  the  college  lands  —  A  temperance  resolution  made  on 
a  religious  principle  —  Description  of  the  college  site,  in  its  natural  wild- 
ness  —  The  first  letter  written  there  —  A  Sunday-school  in  the  open  air,  .  482 

CHAPTER    XLII. 
"Writer's  passing  tribute  to  his  mother's  memory —  Attends  General  Conven- 
tion—  A  small  fault  noticed —  A  friend  found —  A  plea  for  the  west  put 
forth  —  Foreign  correspondence, 492 

CHAPTER   XLIII. 
The  writer  visits  New  York  —  "  Appeal "  put  forth  there  —  Goes  to  Boston 

"Kenyon  Circle"  —  G.  M.  West  introduced  —  Opinion  of  Bishops 

Griswold  and  Brownell  relative  to  his  ordination, 504 

CHAPTER    XLIV. 
The  laying  of  the  corner-stone  of  the  theological  seminary  and  Kenyon  col- 
lege   Extract  from  a  sermon  preached  on  the  banks  of  Vernon  river  on 

that  occasion  —  Fourth  of  July  —  Use  of  the  monitor  —  Petition  for  whis- 
key—  Letters, 51° 

CHAPTER    XLV. 

Progress  and  particulars  of  the  work  —  A  visit  home  —  Interview  with  a 
lumber  seller  —  Builds  a  mill-dam— Equinoctial  storm  — Visit  from  a 
Boston  lady, 533 


REMINISCENCES 


OF 


BISHOP     CHASE. 


CHAPTER  I. 


GENEALOGY SETTLEMENTS    IN   MASSACHUSETTS    AND    ON  CONNECTI- 
CUT   RIVER THE    FIRST    WHITE    WOMAN   ABOVE    FORT    NO.  4. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  New  England  were  three  per- 
sons by  the  name  of  Chase, — William,  Thomas,  and  Aquila. 

Aquila  was  the  common  ancestor  of  the  writer's  family,  and, 
according  to  common  tradition  among  his  descendants,  was 
bom  in  Cornwall,  England,  A.  D.  1618.  He  came  to  America 
in  1640,  and  resided  at  Hampton,  New  Hampshire,  five  years, 
when  he  moved,  with  his  wife  Ann,  to  Newbury,  Mass.,  hav- 
ing been  invited  thither,  on  account  of  his  skill  in  navigation, 
by  the  donation  of  several  lots  of  land  in  that  place.  He  had 
eleven  children.  What  part  of  these  were  born  while  he  and 
his  wife  Ann  lived  at  Hampton,  does  not  appear.  He  himself 
died  in  Newbury,  December  24,  A.  D.  1670. 

Moses,  the  youngest  of  his  sons,  was  born  Dec.  24,  1663. 
He  married  Anne  Follansbee,  Nov.  10.  1684.  They  had  many 
children.  Their  first  was  Daniel,  born  Sept.  20,  1685.  He 
married  Sarah  March,  Jan.  2d,  1706.  They  had  many  chil- 
dren. Their  first-born  was  Samuel,  born  Sept.  28,  1707,  in 
Newbury,  the  writer's  grandfather.  Samuel  Chase  married 
Mary  Dudley.  They  had  five  sons  and  six  daughters.  Their 
sons'  names  were  Samuel,  Dudley,  (the  writer's  father,)  Jon- 
athan, March,  and  Solomon.  Dudley  married  Alice  Corbett, 
of  Mcndon,  August  23,  1753.  Jonathan,  afterward  known  as 
General  Chase,  married  a  Miss  Sherman,  and,  on  her  decease, 
married  a  daughter  of  the  Rev. Hall,  pastor  of  the  Con- 
gregational church  in  Sutton,  and  father  of  Dr.  Hall,  of  Pom- 

1 


2  bishop    chase's    reminiscences. 

fret,  Connecticut.     Dr.  Nathan  Smith,  a  celebrated  surgeon, 
married  Sarah,  the  daughter  of  Gen.  Jonathan  Chase. 

March  Chase  was  married  twice  in  Sutton,  but  had  no  chil- 
dren.    He  lived  in  Sutton  till  his  death,  in  about  1822. 

Solomon  Chase  was  a  regularly-bred  physician.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  March. 

The  parents  of  the  writer,  Dudley  Chase,  and  Alice,  his 
wife,  lived  in  Sutton  about  ten  years,  and  then,  with  his  father 
and  several  of  his  brethren,  moved  to  New  Hampshire,  where, 
having  obtained  a  grant  of  a  township  of  land,  on  Connecticut 
river,  they  agreed  to  settle,  and  called  it  Cornish,  in  honor  of 
a  place  of  that  name  in  England,  from  whence  their  ancestors 
had  emigrated. 

This  happened  previously  to  any  settlements  being  made  to 
the  northward  of  Charleston,  then  called  Fort  No.  4,  on  the 
forementioned  river  Connecticut,  which  divides  Vermont  from 
New  Hampshire.  The  writer's  father  was  the  first,  with  his 
family,  then  consisting  of  his  wife  and  seven  children,  to  take 
possession  of  the  soil,  which  was  then  covered  by  an  entire 
forest  of  the  largest  and  tallest  trees. 

When  the  family,  in  their  painful  journey  through  the 
woods,  arrived  at  Fort  No.  4,  it  was  thought  advisable  that 
his  mother  and  children  should  remain  there  for  shelter,  and 
for  their  greater  security  from  the  Indians.  To  this  arrange- 
ment his  mother  consented,  although,  as  she  told  him.  it  was 
with  the  greatest  reluctance.  "I  shuddered,"  she  said,  "at 
the  thought  of  being  penned  up  with  my  precious  bairns 
within  the  precincts  of  a  narrow  fort,  rudely  built  for  defence 
against  savages,  for  a  period  of  time  I  knew  not  how  long ; 
for  it  was  sixteen  miles  up  the  river  whither  your  father  and 
his  company  of  workmen  were  going,  where  the  land  was  to 
be  cleared,  and  the  crop  for  the  approaching  season  was  to  be 
planted.  But  necessity  is  an  imperious  dictator,  and  submis- 
sion was  my  duty.  It  was  nevertheless  a  hard  parting  when 
your  father  pressed  his  babes  to  his  bosom,  and  mine  to  his 
manly  cheek,  as  he  stepped  into  his  canoe,  and  took  command 
of  his  little  fleet  of  stout  and  cheerful  men,  both  able  and  wil- 
ling to  subdue  the  forest  and  plant  the  virgin  soil. 

uIt  was  some  time  in  the  early  spring  that  this  parting 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  3 

scene  took  place  on  the  banks  of  the  Connecticut  river.  The 
bud  was  then  bursting  from  its  wintry  fetters,  the  birds  were 
commencing  their  wooing  songs,  and  the  wild  herbage  sprang 
up  all  around  me.  Among  these  I  wandered,  admired  their 
beauty,  and  inhaled  their  sweets :  but.  all  had  no  charms  for 
me  while  your  father  was  gone.  I  tried  to  banish  my  fears 
for  his  safety  when  I  thought  of  his  defenceless  state  and  the 
proximity  of  the  ruthless  savage ;  for  there  was  then  war 
between  France  and  England,  and  no  fort  between  us  and 
Canada.  I  also  endeavored  to  seek  refuge  from  my  painful 
feelings  in  employment  for  myself  and  children ;  but  our  con- 
dition in  the  fort  precluded  the  observance  of  regularity,  and 
without  that,  little  can  be  done.  So  much  mingling  of  con- 
tending interests,  especially  among  a  crowd  of  little  children, 
bade  defiance  to  all  efforts  for  order  or  peace.  Days  seemed 
weeks,  and  weeks  seemed  months ;  and  scarcely  did  a  sun  rise 
without  witnessing  my  wanderings  on  the  banks  of  the  flow- 
ing stream  where  I  had  parted  from  your  father  and  his  blithe 
company  of  Cornish  woodmen. 

"It  was  in  one  of  these  walks,  that,  with  my  children  by 
my  side,  I  saw,  as  the  day  drew  to  its  close,  a  canoe  coining 
round  a  point  of  the  river  bank  above  me.  I  first  thought  of 
the  approach  of  savages;  but  before  I  had  time  to  flee,  I  rec- 
ognized the  well-known  canoe  of  your  father,  and  in  it  our 
trusty  neighbor,  Diah  Spalding.  My  heart  leaped  with  joy ; 
and  no  sooner  did  the  canoe  reach  the  shore  than  the  children 
were  in  it  and  on  his  knees ;  nor  did  they  suffer  him  to  stir  till 
they  had  told  him  I  was  resolved  that  we  should  all  return 
with  him  to  their  father  in  the  woods.  '  Do  you  know,  dear 
madam,'  said  he,  respectfully  approaching  me,  —  'are  you 
aware  that  such  has  been  our  anxiety  to  put  in  a  crop  and 
plant  the  ground  for  the  coming  summer,  that  we  have  found 
no  time  to  erect  the  semblance  of  a  house  ?  I  am  come  to  tell 
you  that  your  husband  is  well  and  all  his  men  are  well,  and 
to  obtain  information  of  your  health  and  safety,  and  to  carry 
back  with  me  a  recruit  of  provisions  for  their  comfort ;  but  we 
have  all  slept  upon  the  uncovered  ground,  and  as  yet  have  no 
place  to  shelter  ourselves — much  less  you  and  your  little  ones 
— from  the  pelting  of  the  storm;  and  will  you  venture  with 


4  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

them  into  the  woods  before  you  are  sure  of  a  refuge?'  '  I  will 
go,  and  with  all  my  children  endure  any  storm,  if  you  will 
give  me  but  a  safe  and  speedy  conveyance  to  my  husband. 
If  there  be  no  shelter,  or  fence,  or  fort,  his  faithful  arm  will 
guard  me,  and  his  trusty  men  will  aid  him ;  and  their  God, 
who  is  above  all,  ruleth  all,  and  directeth  all,  will  provide.' 

"A  much  smaller  degree  of  sagacity  than  our  neighbor 
Spalding  possessed,  would  have  been  sufficient  to  make  him 
sensible  that  it  was  in  vain  to  thwart  a  resolution  so  firmly 
taken ;  and  the  speedy  removal  once  determined  on,  all  the 
force  of  his  ingenious  and  friendly  mind  was  called  into  action 
to  make  things  ready.  Such  goods  as  we  needed  least  were 
secured  in  the  fort ;  and  such  as  the  boats  would  carry,  and  we 
needed  most,  with  ample  provisions,  were  put  on  board ;  and 
the  morning  sun  had  scarcely  risen,  ere  the  indefatigable  exer- 
tions of  Spalding,  and  the  anxious  assiduity  of  my  children, 
had  made  all  things  ready  for  the  voyage.  Spalding*  was  a 
good  canoe-man ;  and  under  the  protection  of  the  Almighty,  in 
whom  our  trust  was  placed,  the  exertions  of  his  strong  arm, 
and  the  industrious  aid  of  my  elder  sons,  made  our  speed, 
though  slow,  yet  unceasing;  and,  in  time  of  war  ascending  a 
rapid  stream  in  a  frail  Indian  canoe,  we  reached  before  night 
the  little  opening  among  the  towering  trees,  from  whence  the 
spot  of  your  father's  choice  appeared  to  our  longing  eyes. 
'There  they  are,'  said  the  mingled  voices  of  my  children; 
'  there  is  our  dear  father,  and  yonder  are  his  men ;  I  hear  his 
voice,  and  the  sound  of  their  axes.'  For  a  moment  all  was 
hidden  from  our  view,  by  the  density  of  the  intervening  forest 
trees.  This  gave  me  time  to  utter  what  was  laboring  in  my 
bosom, — a  prayer  of  faith  and  benediction.  'God  of  our 
ancestors,  bless  your  father,  and  me  your  helpless  mother, 
and  you  my  loved  children,  now,  even  now,  as  we  shall,  in  a 
few  minutes,  take  possession  of  this  our  dwelling-place  in  the 
wild  woods ;  and  though,  like  Jacob,  we  have  nought  bat  a 
stone  for  our  pillow,  and  the  canopy  of  heaven  for  a  covering, 
may  we  all  find  God  indeed  to  be  in  this  place :  and  may  this 

*  The  writer  has  since  learned,  from  his  eldest  brother,  Simeon,  of  Bethel,  Vt.,  that 
there  was  one  other  man  sent  down  with  the  canoe  ;  the  same  brother  confirmed  the 
truth  of  this  story. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  5 

place  be  to  us  a  house  of  God  and  a  gate  of  heaven ! '  '  What 
a  moment  was  this  to  one  who  had  left  all  for  her  husband 
and  the  future  fortunes  of  her  children  !  The  wealth  of  India 
would  have  been  meanly  estimated  in  comparison  of  the 
endeared  spot  before  me.' 

"  '  With  your  leave,  madam,'  said  pilot  Spalding,  '  I  think  it 
prudent  that  your  husband  come  to  us,  and  give  orders  where 
he  will  have  his  family  landed.'  Accordingly  he  made  fast 
the  canoe  to  the  willows,  and  desired  us  to  await  his  return. 
Your  father  could  get  no  direct  answer  from  Spalding  as  to  the 
nature  of  the  cargo  he  had  brought.  c  Come  and  see,'  was  all 
he  would  say.  '  Is  all  well  ? '  said  your  father ;  •  have  you 
brought  us  a  good  supply  of  food?'  '  Come  and  see,'  replied 
Spalding,  with  animation,  and  in  an  instant  they  burst  upon 
our  view ;  and  as  your  dear  father  stood  on  the  margin  of  the 
high  bank,  he  saw  beneath  his  feet  the  frail  bark  in  which 
were  his  wife  and  children.  The  emotion  was  almost  too 
much  for  him.  I  saw  this,  and  sprang  forward,  the  children 
quickly  following.  He  received  us  with  a  mixture  of  joy 
mingled  with  agony:  'Are  you  come  to  die  here,'  he  ex- 
claimed, 'before  your  time?  We  have  no  house  to  shelter 
you,  and  you  will  perish  before  we  can  get  one  erected.' 
1  Cheer  up,  cheer  up,  my  faithful ! '  said  I  to  your  father ;  '  let 
the  smiles  and  the  ruddy  faces  of  your  children,  and  the 
health  and  cheerfulness  of  your  wife,  make  you  joyful.  If 
you  have  no  house,  you  have  strength  and  hands  to  make 
one.  The  God  we  worship  will  bless  us,  and  help  us  to 
obtain  a  shelter.     Cheer  up,  cheer  up,  my  faithful ! ' 

"  The  sunshine  of  joy  and  hope  began  to  beam  from  his 
countenance  ;  the  news  was  communicated  throughout  the 
company  of  workmen,  and  the  woods  rang  with  shouts  at  the 
arrival  of  the  first  white  woman  and  the  first  family  on  the 
banks  of  the  Connecticut  river  above  Fort  Number  Four.  All 
assembled  to  see  the  strangers,  and  strove  to  do  them  acts  of 
kindness.  The  trees  were  quickly  felled  and  peeled,  and  the 
clean  bark  in  large  sheets  was  spread  for  a  floor :  other  sheets, 
being  fastened  by  thongs  of  twisted  twigs  to  stakes  driven  in 
the  ground,  were  raised  for  walls  or  laid  on  cross-pieces  for  a 
roof;  and  the  cheerful  fire  soon  made  glad  our  little  dwelling. 

1* 


6  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

The  space  of  three  hours  was  not  consumed  in  effecting  all 
this ;  and  never  were  men  more  happy  than  those  who  con- 
tributed thus  speedily  and  thus  effectually  to  supply  our 
wants.  Beds  were  brought  from  the  canoe  to  this  rustic 
pavilion,  and  on  them  we  rested  sweetly,  fearless  of  danger, 
though  the  thick  foliage  was  wet  with  dew,  and  the  wild 
beasts  howled  all  around  us,  trusting  in  the  protecting  hand 
of  Providence,  and  the  watchful  fidelity  of  our  faithful  neigh- 
bors. 

"  The  next  day  all  hands  were  called  to  build  a  cabin,  which 
served  us  for  the  coming  winter,  and  in  which,  cheered  by  the 
rising  prospects  of  the  family,  and  the  mutual  affection  of  all 
around  us,  my  enjoyments  were  more  exquisite  than  at  any 
subsequent  period  of  my  life." 

Thus  far  the  story  from  the  lips  of  his  venerable  mother. 
It  will  serve  to  show  with  what  unsubdued,  pure  and  patri- 
otic spirits,  New  England  was  first  overspread  with  inhabit- 
ants. 

The  names  of  the  children  of  Dudley  Chase  and  Alice  his 
wife,  are  as  follows :  —  Before  moving  to  Cornish,  N.  H., 
Mercy,  Louis,  Abigail,  Simeon,  Salmon,  Ithamar,  Baruch. 
After  coming  to  Cornish,  Alice,  Sarah,  Corbett,  Heber,  Dud- 
ley, Rachel,  Philander. 

Of  these,  Salmon  was  a  barrister  in  Portland,  Me.,  of  whom 
the  late  Judge  Dawes,  of  Boston,  was  heard  to  say  he  "  never 
saw  him  enter  the  court  but  with  feelings  of  respect."  Died 
in  1806.  Ithamar  was  for  many  years  member  of  the  council 
of  the  state  of  New  Hampshire.  Died  in  Keene,  N.  H.,  in 
1819.  Baruch  was  solicitor  for  Hillsborough  county,  N.  H., 
for  many  years,  and  president  of  Merrimack  County  Bank. 
Died  March  4,  1841,  at  Hopkinton,  N.  H.  Heber  was  a  phy- 
sician. Died  in  1799,  in  Demerara,  South  America.  Dudley 
was  long  a  member  and  speaker  of  the  legislature  of  Ver- 
mont, afterwards  chief  justice  of  that  state,  and  senator  in 
the  congress  of  the  United  States,  and  of  whom  the  writer  has 
heard  the  late  President  of  the  United  States, — the  lamented 
Gen.  Harrison, — say,  that  during  the  last  war  with  England, 
while  associated  with  him  in  congress,  he  had  no  friend  on 
whose   steady  patriotism  he  could  more  confidently  rely  in 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  7 

that  trying  crisis.  He  died  Feb.  23d,  1846.  The  youngest 
of  the  whole  family,  and  the  fifth  educated  at  college,  is  the 
writer  of  this  memoir. 


CHAPTER    II. 

THE  WRITER'S  BIRTH EARLY  IMPRESSIONS STORY  OF  THE  PINE- 
APPLE, OR  THE  FATAL  EFFECTS  OF  EARLY  CHERISHED  COVET- 

OUSNESS. 

The  14th  day  of  December,  1775,  in  his  father's  peaceful 
dwelling,  on  the  high  banks  of  Connecticut  river,  at  the  south 
end  of  Cornish  Plain,  and  precisely  three  miles  south  of  the 
place  where  his  mother  and  seven  children  were  landed,  as 
related  in  the  first  chapter,  was  the  writer  of  this  memoir 
born.  His  early  impressions  are  deep  in  his  mind.  Those 
of  a  religious  character  were  chiefly  from  the  mouth  of  his 
venerable  parents. 

STORY   OF   THE   PINE-APPLE. 

This  is  the  title  given  to  a  series  of  facts  which  the  venera- 
ble mother  of  the  writer  used  to  tell  her  children,  to  illustrate 
her  abhorrence  of  the  sin  of  covetousness  —  that  sin  which, 
by  its  idolatrous  nature,  calls  down  God's  judgments  on  his 
people.  "  Covetousness,"  said  she,  "  is  the  child  of  self-indul- 
gence. It  delights  in  the  gluttony  of  its  parent;  yet,  strange 
to  tell,  it  never  feeds  itself  but  at  the  expense  of  others.  In 
the  town  of  Mendon,  about  fifteen  miles  from  Boston,  in  the 
colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  as  that  state  was  then  called, 
about  the  year  1745,  there  lived  a  young  man,  son  of  a 
wealthy  farmer,  who,  with  his  father  before  him,  had  been 
noted  for  a  stingy  disposition. 

"Money  was  an  essential  ingredient  in  every  feast  of 
enjoyment  which  their  imaginations  could  picture.  No  one 
was  esteemed  but  for  his  money,  and  however  unlawful  the 
means  and  small  the  channels  through  which  it  flowed  into 
their  coffers,  it  made  no  difference.     In  these  sentiments  the 


8  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

young  man,  heir  to  the  estate,  was  educated.  '  Get  money/ 
his  father  would  say,  '  get  money ;  take  care  of  your  pence, 
your  half-pence  and  your  farthings,  and  your  pounds  will 
take  care  of  themselves.'  These  were  the  lessons  which  the 
youth  learned  from  his  earliest  years,  and  practising  on  them 
as  he  advanced,  he  every  day  grew  more  and  more  a  miser, 
which,  in  its  origin,  means  a  miserable  wretch. 

"  God  curses  those  who  transfer  their  hearts'  hest  love  from 
Him,  the  author  of  all  good  and  the  giver  of  all  true  happi- 
ness, to  the  creature,  his  gift.  All  clean  beasts  seem,  by  their 
instinct,  to  reprove  and  shame  such  conduct ;  the  ox  knoweth 
his  owner,  and  the  lamb  acknowledges  the  hand  that  feedeth 
it.  It  is  the  hog  only  that  devoureth  what  is  given  it,  and 
then  turneth  and  with  ingratitude  crendeth'  the  giver.  His 
nose  is  always  to  the  ground,  and,  as  if  to  reprove  a  worldly- 
minded  disposition,  the  speech  given  to  it  seems  to  indicate 
what  predominates  in  the  minds  of  such  as  never  look  up, 
like  the  lamb,  to  heaven  for  enjoyment,  Perhaps  it  was  for 
this  reason  that  the  Jews  were  forbidden  to  eat  the  flesh  of 
the  hog,  that  thereby  they  might  learn  in  a  figure,  as  we 
learn  from  the  gospel,  to  avoid  covetousness  and  other  vices 
which  the  character  of  the  hog  seems  to  point  out.  Be  this 
as  it  may,  this  young  man,  whom  we  shall  now  call  c  Miser 
Coghon,'  regarded  money  as  his  chief  good.  Whenever  his 
pecuniary  interests  came  in  competition  with  his  principles, 
the  latter  always  gave  way  to  the  former.  Point  out  the  way 
to  gain  money,  and  the  means  were  but  secondary  considera- 
tions. The  young  man  was  taught  to  restrain  himself  in 
company,  and  to  make  many  professions  of  honesty  and  dis- 
regard to  self-interest ;  and  thus  he  passed  pretty  well  among 
those  who  were  not  so  intimate  with  him ;  and  beside  this  he 
was  well-looking. 

"Here  I  cannot  but  remark,  in  view  of  the  sad  sequel  of 
this  story,  how  foolish  it  is  for  young  ladies,  who  wish  to 
connect  themselves  happily  in  life,  to  trust  to  appearances. 
This  young  'Miser  Cochon'  was  thought  exceedingly  good- 
looking,  and  his  address,  when  he  had  a  favorite  end  to 
answer,  was  courteous  and  winning ;  and  his  father,  who 
always  knew  what  it  was  to  prepare  his  beef,  pork  and 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  9 

poultry,  so  as  to  bring  a  good  price  in  Boston  market,  kept  his 
own  son  in  good  clothes  whenever  he  went  into  company  with 
the  wealthy  ladies  of  the  neighborhood.  Under  these  cir- 
cumstances, who  could  look  on  Mr.  Miser  with  indifference  ? 
How  much  better  would  it  have  been  for  the  excellent  young 
lady  who  accepted  the  offer  of  his  hand,  had  she  waited  a 
little  and  studied  his  character.  As  it  was,  she  received  his 
first  advances,  and,  because  he  was  wealthy,  became  his 
bride.  Her  fortune  was  not  a  mean  one  —  perhaps  it  was 
greater  than  his ;  but  her  warm  heart  threw  the  whole  into 
his  hands  without  jointure  ;  and  so  she  became  the  wretched 
wife  of  a  miser. 

"Several  years  elapsed  before  the  young  miser  entirely 
withdrew  his  civilities  from  his  amiable  wife.  Until  her  for- 
tune, at  the  death  of  her  father,  fell  entirely  into  his  hands, 
the  love  of  money  forced  from  him  some  respectful  attentions. 
After  this  he  cut  loose  from  all  restraint,  and  treated  her  with 
great  neglect.  As  his  landed  estate  was  enlarged,  his  soul 
seemed  to  contract ;  and  not  only  his  wife,  but  many  of  his 
neighbors,  saw  the  baneful  effects  of  his  growing  covetousness. 
If  a  poor  man  were  suffered  to  live  on  his  domain,  the  favor 
did  not  arise  from  that  high  and  dignified  principle  which 
governs  Christian  bosoms,  namely,  a  consciousness  that  the 
richest  of  us  are  only  stewards  in  God's  household ;  that  con- 
sequently what  we  possess  is  not  our  own,  i.  e.,  we  are  not 
proprietors  thereof,  but  only  entrusted  with  the  goods  and 
possessions  of  our  Heavenly  Master  to  give  to  worthy  objects, 
and  be  doing  good  to  others  as  he  requires. 

"This  sentiment  never  entered  his  benighted  mind;  for  he 
was  like  the  unfaithful  manager  of  an  estate,  who,  when 
money  is  given  him  by  the  owner  to  feed  his  hands  and  make 
their  families  comfortable,  fancies  it  all  his  ow?i,  and  hoards  it 
away  for  his  own  use.  Poor  fool !  what,  think  you,  would 
his  master,  the  great  proprietor,  say  to  him?  But  the  man 
Miser  Cochon  never  thought  he  had  a  Master  in  heaven  to 
call  him  to  account;  he  never  thought  (alas!  how  many 
there  are  who  never  think)  that  there  is  a  God  !  If  he  did 
think  sometimes,  he  forthwith  banished  the  disagreeable  mon- 
itor from  his  mind,  and  opening  full  wide  the  door,  received 


10  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

with  complacency  the  love  of  money  in  its  stead.     This  long- 
cherished  inmate  growing  stronger  and  stronger,  as  he  was 
fed  more  and  more  plentifully  with  money,  drew  tighter  and 
tighter  around  him  the  cords  of  his  moral  bondage.     He  could 
think  of  nothing,  say  and  do  nothing,  with  satisfaction,  but 
that  which  related  to  worldly  gain.     This  one  object  filled  his 
eye  by  day,  and  in  robes  of  golden  net- work  danced  in  his 
dreaming  visions  by  night.     To   touch   the  precious  metal 
thrilled  through  his  moral  frame  sensations  of  the  most  exqui- 
site  delight.     This  was  mental   alcohol  to  him  —  the  high 
wine,  which  alone  could  rouse  and  set  in  motion  his  otherwise 
torpid  soul.     For  money,  the  usual  means  of  comfort  in  his 
family  were  sold.     For  money,  the  faithful  and  trusty  horse 
and  modest  chaise,  which  his  wife  brought  him,  and  the  use 
of   which   was  considered    necessary   to    her  health,    were 
(alleging  them  too  expensive)  sent  to  auction;  and  in  this 
way,  and  for  frivolous  reasons,  were  all  the  comforts  of  his 
wife  withdrawn  from  her.     Under  such  treatment  it  was  no 
wonder  that  her  health  should  evidently  decline  ;  yet  her  con- 
stitution being  naturally  good,  her  disease  was  slow  in  its 
approaches,  and  as  it  was  unseen,  its  fatal  tendencies  were 
unheeded   by   all  except  her  own   conscious  mind.     Those 
moments  in  which  it  may  be  said  that  the  moral  affections  die 
with  disappointed  hope,  were  to  this  woman  moments  of  pro- 
found secrecy.     To  God  only  she  poured  out  her  sorrowful 
heart  for  the  blessing  of  repentance  on  her  loved  husband,  and 
that  the  grace  of  resignation  might  be  given  to  herself. 

"  Many  months  passed  ere  a  flower  of  such  prime  vigor  lost 
all  its  fragrance.  As  it  hung  its  head  and  bowed  to  its  des- 
tiny, the  sweetness  of  its  character  seemed  to  be  more  and 
more  apparent.  Her  mild  and  heavenly  smiles,  which  played 
about  her  countenance  while  her  cheeks  were  flushed  with  the 
rose  color  of  a  hectic  fever,  gave  something  angelic  to  her 
appearance;  so  that  all  observing  persons  were  struck  with 
wonder  at  the  contrast  between  her  and  her  husband.  During 
her  long  and  lingering  weakness  it  was  found  that  nothing 
could  assuage  her  never-ceasing  thirst  so  much  as  the  moder- 
ate and  constant  use  of  fruit.  But  to  procure  it,  such  espe- 
cially as  was   suited  to  her  peculiar  case,  — the  sweet  and 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  11 

juicy  orange  and  the  fragrant  and  acid  lemon,  as  they  were 
brought  fresh  in  vessels  from  the  West  Indies  to  Boston, — 
required  money;  and  money  could  not  be  had  except  by 
appealing  to  the  indurated  bosom  of  her  covetous  husband. 
Nothing  supported  her  under  this  necessity  but  a  conscious- 
ness of  the  justness  of  her  claims  on  his  purse,  once  equally 
her  own,  and  the  absolute  need  in  which  she  evidently  stood 
of  something  to  cool  the  palate  of  her  parched  mouth.  She 
made  these  appeals  again  and  again,  as  the  arrivals  of  the 
fruit  vessels  were  announced ;  but  she  made  them  in  vain  to  a 
bosom  indurated  by  covetousness. 

"  The  frequent  mention  of  fruit,  however,  did  not  pass 
unheeded  by  his  own  self-indulging  disposition,  out  of  which 
the  love  of  money  sprung.  He  was  known  frequently  to  go 
and  look  at  the  fruit  as  it  lay  exposed  in  market ;  and  as  he 
did  so,  to  manifest  evident  tokens  of  a  great  desire  to  eat 
some  himself.  But  the  thoughts  of  paying  for  it  could  not  be 
endured ;  so  he  would  pass  it  by.  On  one  occasion,  however, 
he  was  observed  to  eat  immoderately  of  fruit,  but  on  inquiry 
he  was  found  to  be  gormandizing  from  the  basket  of  a  friend, 
who  had  thoughtlessly  asked  him  to  taste  a  bit.  Such  are  the 
debasing  tendency  and  effects  of  covetousness  ! 

"  But  this  is  not  the  end  of  this  tragic  story.  The  sweet 
suffering  wife  of  this  covetous  man,  having  exhausted  much 
of  her  disposable  personal  substance  in  procuring  things  neces- 
sary to  her  invalid  state,  and  having  long  since  relinquished 
all  hopes  of  obtaining  relief  from  her  husband's  purse,  had 
recourse  at  length  to  her  own  manual  industry  and  mental 
ingenuity.  While  young,  she  had  been  usefully  educated, 
and  had  learned  fine  needlework  and  embroidery.  To  these 
useful  arts  she  applied  herself  now  in  her  day  of  necessity, 
and  with  some  success.  Having  procured  from  a  shop  in 
town  the  loan  of  a  little  muslin  and  lace,  she  was  in  hopes  to 
make  an  article  that  would  sell  again  with  profit.  The  design 
succeeded,  and  the  return  sale  was  in  copper  coin  of  royal 
stamp,  of  good  King  George  the  Second,  sufficient  to  buy  one 
jnne-apple  ;  and  tbe  next  step  was  to  send  for  it  and  bring  it 
from  market.  The  lady  hated  concealment.  To  send  by 
any  other  than  her  loved  husband  for  anything  of  personal 


12  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

enjoyment  to  herself,  would  in  her  eyes  look  clandestine. 
Without  further  deliberation,  therefore,  she  applied  herself  in 
her  sweetest  manner  to  her  husband.  c  My  dearest,'  said  she, 
1  to-morrow  you  go  to  market,  and  will  you  have  the  goodness 
to  attend  to  a  little  matter  of  business  for  me  ?     Will  you 

purchase '     '  I  have  no  money  to  make  any  purchases  for 

any  one,'  said  he,  turning  quickly  away.  '  But,'  said  she, 
laying  her  soft  and  trembling  hand  on  his  withdrawing  arm, 
c  here  is  some  money,  which  I  beg  you  to  lay  out  for  some- 
thing that  is  necessary  for  my  health.'  As  she  spoke,  there 
was  an  earnestness  accompanied  with  dignity  in  her  manner, 
which  arrested  the  respect  even  of  a  miser ;  and  when  he 
heard  the  sound  of  money  in  the  affair,  he  stopped  and 
listened ;  while  his  wife,  recovering  her  feelings,  already 
lacerated  by  his  rough  denial  of  her  reasonable  request,  went 
on :  '  These  few  half-pence  are  my  own,  the  fruit  of  my  own 
industry.  I  made  a  cap,  and  beside  what  the  materials  cost 
me,  and  which  I  have  paid  for,  I  have,  as  the  return  profits 
of  the  sale,  what  is  contained  in  this  little  linen  rag.  Now 
will  you,  —  for  I  desire  to  ask  the  favor  of  no  one  else  but  my 
husband,  —  will  you,  my  husband,  take  it  all,  more  or  less, 
and  lay  it  out  in  the  purchase  of  some  fruit  for  your  faithful 
wife?     My  wish  is  that  you  buy  me  a  pine-apple? 

"  Her  strength  had  sufficed  to  pronounce  these  words  with 
firmness  ;  but  she  said  not,  nor  could  she  say,  another !  There 
was  something  unearthly  in  all  this — a  solemn  sweetness  in 
her  countenance,  which  stirred  up  the  heart,  and  drew  forth  a 
tear  from  all.  The  husband  took  the  money  as  his  wife  held 
it  towards  him,  and  though  this  was  in  silence  he  agreed 
thereto,  and  ratified  the  covenant  to  do  and  perform  the  duty 
expressed  by  his  wife.  For  a  covenant  it  was,  and  that  a 
solemn  one.  God,  the  avenger  of  injured  innocence,  and  the 
protector  of  all  such  as  put  their  trust  in  him,  witnessed  the 
covenant,  and  Miser  Coc^hon  was  bound  in  heaven  to  buy, 
with  the  money  tied  up  in  a  linen  rag,  and  to  bring  back  to 
his  wife,  the  pine-apple ;  and  if  he  failed  to  perform  this,  the 
judgments  of  God  would  justly  be  his  due. 

"  Let  it  not  be  imagined  here,  as  many  foolish,  inconsid- 
erate people  are  apt  to  imagine,  that  the  smallness  of  the 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  13 

sums,  or  the  impotency  of  the  party  injured,  destroys  a  cove- 
nant or  lessens  its  obligation.  God  regardeth  the  small  as  he 
doth  the  great.  Treaties  of  kings  and  empires,  involving  the 
fate  of  nations,  are  no  more  in  his  sight  than  the  solemn 
promises  of  an  humble  individual  to  his  neighbor.  On  him 
who  breaks  the  one,  and  on  him  who  violates  the  other,  will 
the  righteous  Judge  pour  down  his  wrathful  displeasure. 

"  It  was  a  long  day  that  succeeded  the  heart-stirring  scene 
just  described.  As  it  drew  to  a  close,  the  window  which 
overlooked  the  road  to  Boston  was  frequently  visited  by  the 
languid  eyes  of  one  whom  all  the  household  regarded  as  the 
most  innocent,  patient,  suffering  person  in  it.  The  sun 
declined  and  her  husband  did  not  come.  It  grew  dark  and  no 
one  made  his  appearance  at  the  gate.  When  no  object  could 
be  distinguished,  she  left  her  post,  and  praying  in  her  heart 
that  her  husband  might  be  preserved  and  herself  submissive, 
she  turned  to  the  parlor.  At  length  a  wagon  was  heard  — 
then  the  hoarse  voice  of  her  husband  giving  orders  to  his 
market  hands  —  then  he  entered  and  passed  unceremoniously 
to  the  fire,  and.  stamped  his  muddy  feet.  While  this  was 
doing,  how  eagerly  did  the  eye  of  his  wife  strain  to  meet  his ! 
But  'twas  plain  he  purposely  turned  from  her.  At  this,  sum- 
moning up  all  her  courage,  she  placed  herself  directly  before 
him,  and  asked  for  his  health  and  success  in  the  business  of 
the  day.  Monosyllables  were  all  she  received  in  reply.  Still 
the  anxious  inquisitor  went  on  and  said,  '  Were  the  pine- 
apples all  gone?'  The  answer  was,  'No.'  'Did  you  buy 
one  for  me'?'  'Yes.'  'Where  is  it?'  'It  smelt  so  good,' 
said  he,  '  I  sat  down  and  ate  it  all  up  myself  I ! ' 

"  The  frail  ligatures  that  bound  the  spirit  of  this  poor,  suf- 
fering woman  to  her  tender  earthly  frame,  at  this  unfeeling 
reply  gave  way.  The  life-cords  of  her' heart  now  burst 
asunder.  She  fell  back  in  her  chair,  and  as  she  breathed  her 
last,  and  rolled  her  meek  eyes  to  heaven,  she  pronounced  dis- 
tinctly these  words — ''May  you  never  be  satisfied /' 

"  The  prayer  was  a  prophecy.  Though  from  her  gentle 
heart  the  malediction  was  evidently  involuntary,  the  curse 
was  fulfilled.     The  mean  Miser  C05I1011  lived  a  monument  of 

2 


14  bishop   chase's   reminiscences 

the  wrath  of  God  poured  out  on  covetousness,  always  feeding, 
but  never  satisfied.  An  unrepenting  consciousness  of  sin  in 
being  the  murderer  of  his  wife,  bereaved  him  of  his  reason, 
but  altered  not  his  passions.  As  a  lunatic  he  lost  his  estate, 
and  all  his  life  was  spent  in  asking  for  supplies  to  his  vora- 
cious appetite.  These  supplies  were  given  him  :  still  he  cried 
for  '  more ;'  and  with  a  body  increased  to  an  enormous  size, 
he  sat  at  the  corners  of  the  streets  and  eagerly  devoured  the 
crudities  which  the  thoughtless  boys  threw  into  his  ever  open 
and  craving  mouth.  God  suffered  him  to  live  as  an  awaken- 
ing example  of  the  divine  wrath  on  the  idolatry  of  covetous- 
ness. Avoid  it  then  as  the  greatest  evil." 
Thus  far  the  writer's  mother. 


CHAPTER    III. 

PROVIDENTIAL    INDICATIONS  OF  THE    DIVINE    WILL ENTERS    COLLEGE 

AND     BECOMES     ACQUAINTED     WITH     THE     PRAYER-BOOK GRADU- 
ATES   AND    GOES    TO     ALBANY APPOINTED     A    MISSIONARY THE 

POWER     OF     SYMPATHY,    OR     THE     STORY     OF     THE    YOUNG     HIGH- 
LANDER. 

Besides  the  lessons  of  religion  and  virtue  thus  communi- 
cated to  him  immediately  from  the  lips  of  his  beloved  and 
venerable  mother,  there  were  others  which  Divine  Providence 
seemed  to  teach  him  through  the  discriminating  judgment  and 
pious  mind  of  his  father. 

Till  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age  the  writer  had  a  decided 
preference  for  an  agricultural  and  pastoral  life.  His  father, 
like  the  patriarchs'  of  old,  had,  with  his  children  round  him, 
fed  his  flocks  in  green  pastures  by  the  side  of  living  waters 
for  many  years,  till  he  was  now  old  and  gray-headed.  The 
most  of  these  children  had  left  him  to  settle  in  life;  and 
should  the  writer,  who  was  the  youngest,  ever  think  of  leav- 
ing him  also  ?  The  very  idea  of  such  a  separation  seemed 
maddening  to  his  youthful  and  filial  mind ;  and  for  a  time  he 
was  indulged  in  the  pleasing  dream  of  being  the  favored  one 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  15 

who  should  occupy  the  home  farm  and  minister  to  the  wants 
and  wishes  of  his  parents  in  their  declining  years. 

However  amiable  and  even  praiseworthy  such  a  filial  reso- 
lution may  appear  in  the  eyes  of  a  superficial  observer,  yet  in 
the  judgment  of  the  very  parents  whom  it  was  intended  to 
please  it  wore  a  different  aspect.  Four  sons  had  been  edu- 
cated at  college,  and  neither  of  them  had  entered  the  Christian 
ministry  and  become  a  preacher  of  the  gospel  which  they  so 
sincerely  loved ;  and  when  their  last  child  exhibited  no  incli- 
nation even  for  a  useful  public  education,  his  wish  to  remain 
with  them  lost  all  its  endearing  features.  That  God  would 
incline  his  heart  to  be  a  minister,  was  their  constant  prayer ; 
and  daily  would  they  express  their  desire  to  see  some  tokens 
of  Divine  Providence  leading  that  way.  Little  did  they  think 
that  their  prayer  would  be  answered  through  some  painful 
accidents  which  befell  their  son.  Among  the  rest  were  two 
which  totally  changed  the  course  of  his  future  life.  At 
Bethel,  when  visiting  his  sister,  he  cut  with  an  axe  his  foot 
transversely  nearly  through  in  the  middle.  When  in  the 
course  of  a  year  and  more  this  was  healed,  he  had  the  misfor- 
tune, as  it  was  called,  while  in  the  pursuit  of  his  duty  in  pre- 
paring a  field  for  wheat,  in  Cornish,  to  break  his  leg,  and 
otherwise  bruise  his  limb. 

The  question,  wherefore  the  Lord  had  brought  this  great 
affliction  on  the  writer,  never  occurred  to  his  mind  until  long 
after  it  had  happened.  He  was  carried  to  the  house,  his 
broken  limb  was  set,  many  sleepless  nights  had  passed,  and 
the  pain  had  become  somewhat  assuaged,  when  his  venerable 
father  began  to  direct  his  mind  to  the  source  of  all  goodness, 

—  to  that  Being  who  never  afflicts  us  but  with  a  view  to  our 
final  benefit.     Well  does  the  writer  remember  his  countenance 

—  how  it  shone  with  the  beams  of  faith  and  hope  while  he 
endeavored  to  show  that  it  was  his  son's  duty  no  longer  to 
pursue  an  agricultural  life,  but  to  abandon  all  thoughts  lead- 
ing that  way,  and  immediately  commence  studying  with  a 
view  to  enter  college  and  pursue  a  regular  course.  He  did  not 
add,  "for  the  ministry,"  but  the  writer  saw  it  was  so  implied, 
and  listened  with  deep  attention.  "  Do  you  not  see,"  said  he, 
"  that  all  God's  providences  in  thus  afflicting  you  are  meant 


16  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

to  draw  you  from  the  thoughts  of  being  a  farmer?  If  this  be 
plain  to  your  mind,  what  should  hinder  you  from  beginning 
your  studies  for  college  immediately?  Your  brothers,  who 
are  just  now  graduated,  will,  while  they  remain  with  us  a  few 
months,  assist  you  to  commence;  and  'well  begun,  is  half 
done.'  The  plan,  if  pursued  with  a  good  will,  may  assist  in 
causing  you  to  forget  the  pains  of  a  long  lameness." 

The  work  of  hard  study  was  commenced,  and  in  less  than 
one  year  the  writer  passed  his  examination.  In  the  fall  of 
1791  he  became  a  member  of  Dartmouth  college  —  an  institu- 
tion twenty  miles  up  the  river,  founded  by  Eleazar  Wheelock, 
with  donations  collected  from  England,  especially  from  Lord 
Dartmouth,  after  whom  the  institution  was  named. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  1793-94,  while  he  was  a  member 
of  the  sophomore  and  junior  classes,  he  became  acquainted 
with  the  Common  Prayer-Book  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  of  the  United  States  of  America.  This  circumstance 
formed  an  important  era  in  his  life  and  that  of  his  venerable 
parents  and  beloved  relatives  in  Cornish,  New  Hampshire, 
and  in  Bethel,  Vermont,  where  they  resided.  Hitherto  they 
had  all  been  Congregationalists,  and  as  such,  had  much  igno- 
rance and  many  prejudices  to  overcome  in  conforming  to  the 
worship  of  God  as  set  forth  in  that  primitive  liturgy.  The 
more,  however,  it  was  examined  and  compared  with  the  word 
of  God,  the  more  forcibly  did  its  beauties  strike  their  minds. 
Amidst  the  manifold  divisions,  not  to  say  schisms  and  here- 
sies, by  which  they  were  circumstanced  and  to  which  an 
extemporaneous  mode  of  worship  had  evidently  led.  the 
Prayer-Book  seemed  a  light,  mercifully  designed  by  Provi- 
dence to  conduct  them  into  the  path  of  peace  and  order ;  and 
then  the  holy  faith  which  it  was  designed  to  preserve,  as  the 
vessel  preserves  the  oil  from  being  spilled  and  adulterated, 
how  pure  and  undefiled  did  it  appear  !  How  primitive  when 
compared  with  the  multiform  articles  of  belief  which  had 
grown  up,  and  still  continue  to  grow  up,  all  around  them  ! 
These  considerations  respecting  the  liturgy  of  the  church, 
joined  to  her  well-authenticated  claims  to  an  apostolic  consti- 
tution in  her  ministry,  were  among  the  principal  reasons 
which  induced  so  many  of  his  relations  to  conform  to  the 


bishop  chase's  reminiscences.  17 

Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and  instead  of  repairing  the 
meeting-house,  where  both  his  grandfather  and  father  had  offi- 
ciated as  Congregational  deacons,  inclined  them  to  pull  it  down 
and  erect  on  its  spot  an  Episcopal  Church.  This  was  effected 
in  great  harmony ;  not  a  voice  was  raised  against  the  measure 
throughout  the  neighborhood.  As  it  respects  himself,  having 
become  ardently  desirous  of  entering,  when  qualified,  into  the 
ministry,  the  question,  who  had  the  divine  power  and  author- 
ity to  ordain  him  and  thereby  give  him  an  apostolic  commis- 
sion to  preach  and  administer  the  sacraments,  became  a  mat- 
ter of  the  utmost  consequence,  affecting  his  conscience.  How 
this  was  answered,  his  course  of  life  has  shown.  As  he 
depended  not  on  others'  opinions,  but  examined  for  himself, 
even  so  let  others  do ;  always  remembering  that  truth  doth  not 
depend  on  man,  but  on  God. 

At  the  time  of  which  the  writer  is  now  speaking,  there  were 
two  Episcopal  clergymen  who  occasionally  visited  Cornish  and 
Bethel.  The  first  was  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Ogden,  a  man  of  good 
talents  and  an  excellent  preacher.  His  wife,  the  daughter  of 
Gen.  Wooster,  of  the  army  of  the  United  States,  resided  in 
New  Haven,  Connecticut,  with  her  young  daughter,  Miss 
Polly  Ogden,  afterwards  so  well  known  for  her  benevolence, 
and  now  so  much  in  memory  revered  for  her  munificence  to 
the  Episcopal  Church  in  that  city. 

This  reverend  gentleman  used  to  visit  occasionally,  in  pass- 
ing Dartmouth  college,  the  retired  study  of  the  writer,  by 
which  means  he  became  acquainted  with  an  instance  of  self- 
denial  and  zeal  for  the  spread  of  the  truth,  in  the  gentleman 
referred  to,  which  is  seldom  witnessed.  Jones'  (of  Nayland) 
Essay  on  the  Church  had  just  been  published  in  England,  and 
a  few  stray  copies  had  found  their  way  to  Vermont.  With 
this  little  work  Mr.  Ogden  was  so  much  pleased,  and  so  desir- 
ous to  do  good  with  it  to  others,  that,  poor  as  he  was,  he 
determined  to  pass  an  edition  through  the  press  at  his  own 
expense.  He  had  obtained  money,  he  said,  to  buy  him  a 
new  coat,  of  which  he  stood  greatly  in  need ;  but  this  he 
could  give  to  the  printer,  and,  to  keep  himself  decent,  would 
turn  his  old  one.  On  the  first  mention  of  such  a  singular 
instance  of  self-denying  humility  to  serve  the  cause  of  what 

2* 


18  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

the  gentleman  supposed  to  be  the  truth,  it  was  regarded  as 
belonging  to  the  region  of  romance,  instead  of  sober  reality. 
Yet  it  really  took  place.  The  printer  was  spoken  to,  and 
agreed  to  publish  the  little  ':  Essay  on  the  Church;"  but  for 
the  given  sum  offered,  could  do  it  only  by  making  it  come  out 
in  16s — a  square  form — instead  of  the  more  comely  form  of 
an  oblong  octavo.  The  little,  short,  thick  tract  was  printed, 
and  much  good  did  it  do.  It  told  us  what  the  world  is,  and 
and  what  the  church  of  God  is — how  to  find  the  latter,  and 
how  to  know  the  wicked  nature  of  the  other.  Of  the  good 
effects  of  this  book,  long  after  the  zealous  publisher  had 
gone  to  his  high  reward,  something  more  will  be  said  in  this 
memoir.  t 

The  Rev.  Bethuel  Chittenden,  brother  of  the  governor  of 
Vermont,  was  the  other  of  the  voluntary  missionaries  who  vis- 
ited Bethel  and  Cornish.  For  the  most  part,  Mr.  Chittenden 
officiated  at  Shelburn,  Vermont;  and  being  invited,  he  came 
across  the  Green  mountains  to  preach  and  administer  the  ordi- 
nances in  Cornish,  where  the  writer  and  his  friends  lived :  and 
it  was  at  the  hands  of  this  pious  ambassador  of  Christ  he 
received,  for  the  first  time,  the  blessed  sacrament  of  the  body 
and  blood  of  Christ.  Never  will  the  impressions,  made  by  the 
solemnities  of  this  divinely-appointed  means  of  grace,  be  oblit- 
erated from  the  writer's  conscious  mind.  What  added  to  his 
joy  and  comfort  was,  the  circumstance  that  his  parents  and 
uncles,  his  sisters  and  brothers,  and  many  other  relatives, 
were  kneeling  by  his  side ;  and  although  the  most  of  them  had 
been  communicants  among  the  Congregationalists,  yet  they 
seemed  one  with  him  in  Christian  love. 

From  that  day,  the  writer  felt  "strengthened  and  refreshed," 
to  go  on  his  way  rejoicing.  By  the  advice  of  the  clergy  named, 
he  read  prayers  and  authorized  printed  sermons  in  Hartland 
and  Bethel,  Vermont,  and  in  Cornish,  New  Hampshire.  The 
conformists  to  the  church  in  all  three  places  were  considera- 
ble, particularly  in  Bethel,  thus  laying  the  foundation  of  the 
largest  communion  in  that  diocese.  These  efforts  to  build  up 
the  primitive  Church  of  God  were  made  when  he  was  in  col- 
lege, and  principally  in  the  times  of  vacation  and  of  being 
permitted  to  visit  his  friends  on  Sundays.     In  the  summer  of 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  19 

the  year  of  our  Lord  1796,  the  writer  was  married,  in  Bethel, 
Vermont.  The  name  of  his  wife  was  Mary  Fay,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  and  Mary  Fay,  of  Hardwick,  Massachusetts, 
where  their  first  children  were  born  and  bred.  Mrs.  Fay's 
maiden  name  was  Page,  and  was  sister  to  Timothy  Page,  for 
several  years'  a  member  of  the  legislature  of  that  state.  Mr.  D. 
Fay's  brother  was  named  also  Timothy.  He  was  a  respecta- 
ble yeoman  of  Hardwick.  The  surviving  brothers  of  his  first 
wife,  are  Dr.  Jedediah  Fay,  of  Owego,  New  York  state,  and 
Dr.  Timothy  Fay,  of  Stockbridge,  Vermont,  and  Cyrus  Fay, 
merchant,  Columbus,  Ohio. 

He  was  graduated  in  the  degree  of  A.  B.,  1795.  Soon  after 
this,  he  attended  a  convention  of  a  small  number  of  Episcopa- 
lians, on  the  west  side  of  the  mountains,  in  Arlington,  Ver- 
mont. Here  he  received  such  information  as  induced  him, 
contrary  to  his  expectation  when  he  left  his  friends  in  Cornish, 
to  go  on  as  far  as  Albany,  in  the  state  of  New  York.  His 
object  was  to  see  and  obtain  advice  of  an  English  clergyman, 
who  was  said  to  reside  in  that  city. 

To  an  inexperienced  young  man,  without  letters  of  com- 
mendation, this  going  to  Albany  was  an  enterprise  of  no  small 
importance ;  and  his  feelings  on  that  occasion  will  never  be 
forgotten.  Hitherto  he  had  been  conversant  with  pastoral  life, 
and  with  the  inhabitants  only  of  villages  and  hamlets.  He 
had  now  to  enter  a  city  with  crowded  streets  and  bustling  with 
business.  To  add  to  his  embarrassment,  he  knew  not  a  soul 
in  it,  nor  how  to  get  intelligence  of  the  person  whom  he  wished 
most  to  see ;  and  still  further  to  depress  his  feelings,  he  had 
but  one  crown  of  money  in  his  pocket ;  so  much  more  had  his 
expenses  already  been  than  he  expected  when  leaving  his 
friends  in  Cornish.  He  pressed,  however,  fearlessly  forward: 
God  was  with  him,  opening  his  way  and  directing  his  steps. 

Having  passed  Market,  he  entered  Court  street,  and,  stop- 
ping at  "  Wendal's  Hotel,"  inquired,  "  Where  lives  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Ellison,  the  Episcopal  clergyman?"  "What,  the 
English  Dominie?"  replied  a  friendly  voice;  "You  will  go 
up  State  street — pass  the  English  stone  church,  which  stands 
in  the  middle  of  that  street,  and  as  you  go  up  the  hill,  turn  the 
second  corner  to  the  right:  there  lives  the  English  Dominie, 


20  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

the  Rev.  Mr.  Ellison,  in  a  newly-built  white  house,  the  only 
one  on  the  block  or  clay  bank."  It  was  indeed  just  so  ;  and 
the  writer  mounted  the  plank  door-steps,  and  with  a  trembling 
hand  knocked  at  the  door  of  the  rector  of  St.  Peter's,  Albany. 
"Is  this  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ellison?"  said  the  writer,  as  the  top  of 
a  Dutch-built  door  was  opened  by  a  portly  gentleman  in 
black,  with  prominent  and  piercing  eyes  and  powdered  hair. 
"  My  name  is  Ellison,"  said  he,  "and  I  crave  yours?"  Giv- 
ing his  name,  the  writer  said,  "  I  have  come  from  New  Hamp- 
shire, the  place  of  my  nativity,  and  being  very  desirous  of 
becoming  a  candidate  for  holy  orders,  I  will  be  much  obliged 
for  your  advice."  Mr.  Ellison  then  said,  "God  bless  you! 
walk  in."  This  was  a  crisis  of  unspeakable  importance  to  the 
writer.  Verily  doth  he  believe  that,  had  the  reception  now 
given  him  been  otherwise  than  that  of  marked  good  will  and 
condescending  kindness,  the  whole  course  of  the  writer's  life 
would  have  been  changed.  A  rebuff  would  have  turned  his 
face  another  way. 

As  it  was  a  plain  story,  answering  the  taste  of  a  candid, 
upright  mind,  all  things  assumed  a  pleasing  aspect.  The 
offer  of  an  appointment  as  a  teacher  in  the  city  school,  just 
then  opened,  and  the  free  access  to  a  well-chosen  theological 
library,  made  the  writer  by  this  pious  and  learned  gentle- 
man, are  instances  of  a  merciful  Providence  never  to  be  for- 
gotten. What  rendered  the  mercy  the  more  signal  was  the 
then  entire  infant  state  of  the  Church  in  America,  as  to  any 
means  of  bringing  forward  her  candidates  for  holy  orders. 
No  societies  friendly  to  this  great  object  then  existed :  no 
theological  seminaries  then  were  thought  of;  and  no  sense  of 
duty  then  was  impressed  upon  the  minds  of  the  more  wealthy 
members  of  our  communion,  to  aid  young  men  striving  for 
the  ministry.  The  offer  made  by  Mr.  Ellison,  notwithstand- 
ing its  being  accompanied  by  the  onerous  duty  of  a  school- 
master, was  esteemed  by  the  writer  as  the  greatest  privilege. 
It  kept  him  from  despair;  it  gave  him  his  whole  evenings 
for  study  and  meditation ;  and,  to  crown  all,  promised  the 
society  of  a  finished  scholar  and  pious  clergyman  from  Eng- 
land. 

Mr.  Ellison  was  but  one  of  the  three  trustees ;  of  course  the 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  21 

appointment  could  not  be  considered  certain  till  confirmed  by 
the  board :  and  in  the  interim  to  be  on  expense  in  the  city- 
would  not  be  advisable.  "  A  Sunday  will  intervene,"  said 
he;  "and  as  you  say  you  have  been  accustomed  to  read  the 
service  among  your  friends  in  New  Hampshire,  why  not  do 
the  like  in  this  neighborhood?  There  are  a  few  Church  peo- 
ple in  Troy ;  suppose  you  spend  the  Lord's  day  there  as  a  lay 
reader  7  Your  commission  so  to  do  will  be  not  inferior  to  that 
of  others.  Take  a  manuscript  sermon  of  mine,  and  if  you  can 
read  it,  do  so."  This  address  and  proposition  to  the  writer 
was  truly  affecting.  The  remembrance  thereof  is  still  fresh 
on  his  mind.  That  it  should  be  offered  by  a  venerable  and 
experienced  gentleman  to  a  stranger  who  had  little  or  nothing 
to  commend  him  to  his  favor,  and  that  it  should  be  made  at 
a  time  when  no  other  way  was  opened  to  defray  inevitable 
expenses,  was  truly  strange. 

In  a  few  hours  the  writer  was  in  Troy ;  and  being  furnished 
with  a  letter  from  Mr.  Ellison,  soon  found  himself  among 
friends.  Dr.  Lynson,  whose  widow  afterwards  married  Jesse 
Oakley,  of  Poughkeepsie — Mr.  Williams,  subsequently  Judge 
Williams,  of  so  much  worth  in  Utica — and  a  daughter  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Hubbard,  the  then  faithful  rector  of  Trinity  church, 
New  Haven,  —  were  the  persons  whose  civilities  the  writer 
enjoyed  in  this  first  visit  to  that  dear  place  now  called  Troy, 
the  favorite  city  for  benevolence  in  New  York. 

All  denominations  then  met  in  one  house,  and  the  after- 
noon of  Sunday  was  assigned  for  service  of  the  Church,  to  be 
conducted  by  the  writer.  The  assembly  was  large  and  deco- 
rous ;  and  though  he  was  but  the  organ  of  others,  yet  the  wri- 
ter saw,  from  the  specimen  before  him,  what  opportunities 
God  might  give  him  of  doing  good,  when  duly  qualified  and 
authorized  to  perform  the  sacred  functions.  This  encouraged 
him  to  proceed  with  more  confidence  in  the  goodness  of  Prov- 
idence. 

In  the  coming  week  the  trustees  of  the  city  school  in  Albany 
met,  and  appointed  the  writer  one  of  their  teachers.  His  sal- 
ary was  four  hundred  dollars  per  annum.  The  school  was 
kept  in  Maiden  lane,  in  an  old  Dutch  house  in  the  rear  of 
the  mansion  of  Philip  Van  RenssdaiT,  afterwards  the  most 


22  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

esteemed  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Albany.  Here,  his  wife  hav- 
ing joined  him,  the  writer  lived,  and  studied  his  books  from 
Mr.  Ellison's  library.  Here  his  first  son,  George,  was  born, 
and,  in  the  view  of  his  obtaining  orders  soon,  his  wife  returned 
to  her  friends  in  Vermont. 


ORDINATION   AND   EARLY   MINISTRY. 

The  time  thus  employed  rolled  swiftly  away.  On  the  10th 
day  of  May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1798,  in  St.  George's 
chapel,  in  the  city  of  New  York,  the  writer  was  ordained  dea- 
con, by  the  Right  Rev.  Samuel  Provost,  bishop  of  that  dio- 
cese, in  company  with  the  Rev.  Robert  G.  Wetmore,  who  was 
raised  to  the  order  of  priests.  This  event  took  place  more 
than  forty  years  ago,  and  yet  the  writer  has  cause  to  bless 
God  in  that  he  feels  its  importance  and  values  the  honor  and 
privilege  conferred  on  him,  though  so  unworthy.  If  to  be  the 
servant  of  the  best  and  most  puissant  of  earthly  potentates  be 
deemed  honorable  and  much  to  be  desired,  how  doth  the  privi- 
lege rise  in  magnitude  and  value,  when  a  poor,  undeserving 
worm  is  admitted  to  the  dignity  of  being  reckoned  among 
the  lowest  servants  of  the  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords ! 
Nothing  mars  the  brightness  of  this  great  honor,  but  the  very 
deep  consciousness  in  the  writer's  breast  of  his  own  unworthi- 
ness,  and  the  remembrance  of  the  very  little  he  hath  done  to 
advance  the  kingdom  of  the  Redeemer,  and  the  worthlessness 
even  of  that  little,  though  protracted  during  the  ministry  of 
more  than  forty  years. 

When  this  event  of  the  writer's  ordination  took  place,  there 
were  but  very  few  clergymen  in  the  Episcopal  Church  of  New 
York.  If  we  except  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sayers,  who  was  about 
removing  from  Poughkeepsie  to  Port  Tobacco,  in  Maryland, 
and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Yan  Horn,  who  officiated  but  seldom  in  Or- 
ange comity,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wetmore,  who  had  just  come 
off  the  mission,  and  was,  as  before  mentioned,  admitted  to 
priest's  orders,  there  were  but  the  following  clergymen  above 
the  Highlands,  viz.:  —  Thomas  Ellison,   at  Albany,   Daniel 

Nash,  in  Otsego  county, Urquhart,  officiating  a  short  time 

in  Johnstown,  and  one  other  minister,  afterwards  degraded. 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  23 

Compare  these  few  clergymen  and  their  very  limited  con- 
gregations, with  the  army  of  faithful  pastors  and  their  numer- 
ous flocks  which  now  spread  over  northern  and  western  New 
York,  and  who  will  not  acknowledge  the  difference  of  encour- 
agement presented  to  the  mind  of  a  young  and  inexperienced 
clergyman  of  the  Episcopal  Church  at  that  day,  and  that  of  a 
candidate  now  for  our  primitive  ministry  in  that  flourishing 
diocese  ? 


STORY   OF    THE   YOUNG   HIGHLANDER. 

Immediately  after  his  being  admitted  to  deacon's  orders,  the 
writer  was  appointed  an  itinerant  missionary  in  the  northern 
and  western  parts  of  New  York,  and  forthwith  endeavored  to 
enter  on  the  duties  assigned  him.  At  that  period  of  time.  viz.. 
in  the  year  1798,  the  travelling  by  land  from  New  York  to 
Albany  was  so  difficult  and  tedious,  that  many  preferred  to 
take  the  precarious  chance  of  going  in  the  small  sloops  by 
water  up  the  North  river.  These  little  craft  were  illy  pro- 
vided, and  the  winds  were  so  often  adverse,  that  the  time  in 
getting  from  one  place  to  another  was  frequently  more  than  a 
week.  Every  tide,  however,  set  them  forward  a  little,  even 
with  the  wind  ahead,  and  so  the  voyage  was  not  hopeless. 
The  writer  remembers  the  passage  he  made  in  one  of  these 
vessels  from  New  York  to  Albany,  immediately  after  his  ordi- 
nation, with  singular  minuteness,  in  that  the  occurrences 
thereof  afforded  an  example  of  the  power  of  sympathy,  more 
remarkable  than  he  had  hitherto  ever  witnessed.  The  story, 
though  long,  may  prove  useful  to  others,  as,  he  trusts,  it  has 
been  to  him. 

The  sloop,  on  board  of  which  he  paid  his  fare  to  Albany, 
had  but  few  passengers  except  a  large  company  of  Highland 
Scotchmen,  who,  in  their  native  dress,  had  taken  their  stations 
in  the  hold,  with  the  privilege  of  coming  on  deck  at  their 
pleasure.  They  all  spoke  to  each  other  in  the  Highland  lan- 
guage, and  this  circumstance  kept  them  aloof  from  the  cabin 
passengers  for  some  time;  till  one  day,  the  only  individual 
among  them  who  could  speak  English,  addressed  the  writer 
in  respectful  terms,  and  inquired  as  to  the  best  ways  and 


24  bishop  chase's  reminiscences* 

means  of  getting  a  livelihood  in  America.  In  answering  so 
reasonable  a  question,  made  in  behalf  of  so  many  simple  but 
able  men  just  arrived  in  this  country,  it  was  evidently  neces- 
sary to  know  whither  they  were  going,  and  what  their  occu- 
pations. The  reply  was,  that  they  all  designed  to  stop  at 
Albany  but  one,  who  wished  to  go  to  his  brother,  living  on 
Merrimack  river,  in  New  England.  To  this  it  was  replied, 
that  the  person  mentioned  ought  to  have  gone  to  his  brother 
by  the  way  of  Boston  to  Newburyport,  which  last  place  was 
situated  on  that  river.  This  being  reported  to  the  company, 
they  all  gathered  around  the  writer,  and,  through  their  inter- 
preter, asked  many  questions,  which  resulted  in  the  advice 
that  they  should  all  keep  together  till  they  arrived  in  Albany, 
where  they  might  find  some  one  who  would  address  a  letter  to 
their  countryman  on  Merrimack  river,  and  there  wait  his  reply; 
in  which,  doubtless,  there  would  be  directions  as  to  the  best 
way  of  getting  to  him ;  and,  moreover,  perhaps  he  himself,  on 
hearing  that  so  near  a  relative  had  actually  arrived  in  Amer- 
ica, would  come  in  person  and  bring  him  to  his  home.  This 
advice  was  most  satisfactory  to  all,  especially  to  the  young 
Highlander,  who  immediately,  and  with  many  gesticulations 
denoting  great  earnestness,  begged  the  writer  himself  to  frame 
the  letter  to  his  brother,  that  he  might  have  it  ready  for  the 
post  on  his  arrival  at  Albany.  It  may  be  reasonably  supposed 
that  a  request  so  proper  in  itself,  and  so  pathetically  urged, 
would  not  be  disregarded,  especially  as  there  was  leisure,  and 
the  time  hung  heavy  in  a  protracted  passage.  Having  learned 
the  names  and  residence  of  his  parents,  and  heard  him  feel- 
ingly respond  to  all  questions  relating  to  his  brothers  and 
sisters,  and  other  old  friends  in  his  native  land,  the  letter  was 
duly  prepared,  and  the  young  Highlander  called  to  hear  it 
interpreted  to  him.  And  here  the  writer  cannot  but  pause  and 
be  deeply  affected,  as  faithful  memory  brings  to  his  mind  the 
countenance  and  gestures  of  this  extraordinary  person,  as  he 
drank  in  the  words  and  felt  the  sentiments  of  this  simple  and 
affectionate  epistle  of  a  brother  to  a  brother.  It  seems  he  had 
thought  it  more  than  human,  that  any  one  could  know  the 
feeling  of  his  fraternal  bosom,  or  that  a  person,  who  had  no 
actual  acquaintance  with  the  objects  of  his  affection,  could 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  25 

describe  them  in  the  same  lovely  features  which  his  imagina- 
tion had  portrayed  for  a  continual  feast  for  his  own  eyes. 

During  the  process  of  interpretation,  (which  perhaps  was 
done  in  a  language  far  more  expressive  than  anything  the 
writer  had  used,)  he  would  seize  his  hand  and  embrace  it, 
and  then  kneeling,  would  burst  into  tears  as  of  grateful  aston- 
ishment at  hearing  with  his  ears  the  words  which  represented 
so  exactly  what  was  at  that  time  felt  in  his  own  heart.  All 
this  was  noted  at  the  time  as  very  remarkable;  but  no 
thought  was  entertained  of  the  effect  which  this  excess  of  pas- 
sion would  produce  in  case  of  disappointment.  The  result 
will  show  that  our  feelings,  even  those  of  the  tenderest  class, 
need  the  governing,  overruling  hand  of  religion  and  the  fear 
of  God,  to  make  them  subservient  to  our  real  good.  Like  the 
elements,  they  are  useful  when  governed ;  but  left  to  them- 
selves, unsubdued  by  a  holy  fear  and  devout  submission  to 
our  Holy  Father's  will,  they  break  forth,  and  with  resistless 
force  consume  or  overwhelm  all  we  hold  dear.  The  sequel 
of  this  story  will  make  good  this  remark. 

Business  detained  the  writer  in  Albany  several  weeks, 
when,  as  he  was  walking  by  the  house  of  a  Scotch  friend,  he 
heard  the  bell  of  the  church  to  which  that  friend  belonged, 
tolling  as  for  a  funeral,  and  stopping  at  his  house,  inquired 
who  of  his  congregation  was  dead?  "  A  young  Highlander," 
said  he,  "who  lately  died  of  mere  grief  and  disappointment." 
And  then  he  proceeded  to  relate  the  main  parts  of  this  story  : 

—  how  that  he  had  come  all  the  way  from  Scotland  to  find  a 
brother  —  had  missed  his  way  and  come  to  Albany,  instead 
of  going  directly  to  Merrimack  river,  where  his  brother  lived 

—  how  that  some  one  had  written  a  letter  for  him  to  send  to 
his  brother  —  that  he  had  waited  and  waited  for  an  answer, 
till  a  day  or  two  ago  it  arrived ;  but  alas,  instead  of  bringing 
good  news  from  his  brother,  it  brought  the  intelligence  that  he 
had  been  dead  for  several  months !  "O  sir,"  said  he,  "this 
is  not  all :  the  poor  young  man,  on  hearing  that  his  brother 
was  indeed  dead  and  that  he  should  never  see  him  again,  was 
so  overcome  with  grief,  that  he  dropped  dead  on  the  spot  him- 
self !  This  is  the  funeral  which  wc  Scotchmen,  who  love  one 
another  better  than  you  Yankees,  are  now  called  on  to  attend." 

3 


26  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

So  saying,  he  left  the  writer  to  his  own  sad  reflections.  The 
worthy  citizen  here  spoken  of  lived  in  Maiden  lane.  His 
name  was  James  Barkley.  If  he  be  now  living,  he  is  near 
eighty  years  of  age.  If  not,  his  relations  may  call  to  mind 
this  sad  story. 

The  writer  may  truly  say  that  the  facts,  as  here  recited, 
made  a  deep  impression  on  his  mind,  and  during  the  lapse  of 
many  years,  have  never  ceased  to  produce  very  serious  reflec- 
tions on  the  uncertainty  of  human  life ;  and  above  all,  on  the 
bounden  duty  of  holding  ourselves  obligated,  as  with  an  oath 
of  fealty,  to  submit  to  God's  will  in  all  our  plans  and  expecta- 
tions of  happiness,  and  never  to  weave  the  web  of  our  expected 
enjoyments  with  our  own  hands,  and  so  intensely  as,  when 
broken,  will  leave  us  without  resource  and  plunge  us  in 
despair.  'Tis  in  mercy  and  for  our  own  interest,  as  well  as  a 
dictate  of  necessity  and  duty,  to  say  to  our  Heavenly  Father, 
"  Thy  will  be  done." 


CHAPTER    IV. 

HIS   MISSIONARY   LABORS   IN   NEW    YORK    STATE. 

The  Missionary  Society  of  the  diocese  of  New  York,  the 
first,  the  writer  believes,  that  was  ever  organized  in  the  Epis- 
copal Church  of  America,  had  employed  the  Rev.  Robert 
Griffith  Wetmore  as  the  first  laborer  in  the  field  already 
whitening  unto  harvest  in  the  western  parts  of  that  state. 
With  great  fidelity,  as  the  writer  afterwards  had  abundant 
evidence  to  believe,  had  he  performed  his  duty,  on  the  head 
waters  of  the  Delaware  and  Unadilla  rivers,  in  Paris  and 
Duanesburg.  But  his  feeble  health  incapacitating  him  for 
undergoing  any  longer  the  fatigues  incident  to  a  missionary 
life,  he  was  settled  at  Schenectady,  and  the  writer  was  named 
to  take  his  place. 

The  first  sermons  he  ever  preached,  besides  that  in  New 
York  city  immediately  after  his  ordination,  were  in  Lansing- 
burg  and  Troy,  and  the  first  baptism  he  ever  performed  was 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  27 

in  Albany.  This  was  the  case  of  a  young  lady  of  a  distin- 
guished family,  who  now  resides  in  Otsego  county.  She  was 
then  judged  to  be  truly  pious,  though  never  ostentatious. 
She  has  lived,  it  is  well  known,  in  strict  accordance  with  her 
baptismal  vows,  the  life  of  an  exemplary  Christian  for  more 
than  forty  years,  —  the  friend  of  the  poor  —  the  protectress  of 
the  helpless  —  the  instructress  of  the  young  and  ignorant  — 
and  the  never-failing  supporter,  by  her  wealth  and  sound 
advice,  of  the  ministers  of  the  church  of  Christ. 

The  writer  would  not  mention  this  but  for  the  great  encour- 
agement which  it,  with  many  other  similar  instances  of  true 
conversion,  gave  to  his  feeble  ministry.  The  Episcopal  Church 
was  then  in  her  infancy ;  hardly  had  she  begun  to  rear  her 
head  or  make  her  voice  heard  among  the  daughters  of  Zion ; 
and  the  writer  —  who  was  he  1  The  most  inexperienced  and 
least  learned  of  her  ministers.  Instead  of  being  held  up  by 
the  encouraging  voice  of  numerous  congregations  of  firm  and 
experienced  Christians,  among  whom  he  might  go  in  and  out, 
he  found  literally  no  people  as  yet  gathered  together  to  bid 
him  even  welcome.  And  yet  God  was  gracious  to  him  in 
giving  him  favor  in  the  sight  of  a  few  faithful  disciples,  who 
understood  the  word  of  God  and  the  doctrine  and  discipline 
of  his  primitive  Church ;  and  often  was  he  called  to  the  great 
honor  of  admitting  by  baptism  many  lambs  into  the  fold  of 
Christ,  and  of  planting  many  scions  in  his  vineyard,  which 
have  since  borne  much  fruit. 


TROY. 


As  already  observed,  his  first  essays  in  the  ministry  were 
in  Troy  and  Lansingburg.  Here  he  became  acquainted  with 
some  families,  afterwards  eminently  distinguished  as  the 
friends  of  the  Episcopal  clergy  and  the  munificent  benefactors 
of  the  Church.  Most  of  them  havegon.'  to  their  high  reward; 
but  some  yet  remain.  Would  thai  the  writer  could  here 
record  their  names,  in  testimony  to  their  worth,  and  his  grati- 
tude for  the  many  favors  they  have  shown  him  through  the 
vicissitudes  <>f  his  painful  life;  for  he  has  met  them  in  the  days 
of  his  pilgrimage  since,  in  many  places,  with  the  joy  that  the 


28  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

benighted  and  weary  traveller  experiences  when  suddenly 
introduced  to  both  light  and  shelter. 

From  the  last-named  places  and  Waterford,  the  writer,  in 
the  pursuit  of  his  duty,  proceeded  to  preach  at  Stillwater, 
Fort  Edward,  Kingsbury,  and  Lake  George;  also  at  Ther- 
man's  Patent,  a  region  of  country  just  settling  west  of  that 
lake,  where  he  instituted  a  regular  parish.  At  Hampton,  on 
the  borders  of  Vermont,  he  tarried  several  weeks  and  organ- 
ized a  parish. 

Returning  to  Albany,  and  taking  sweet  counsel  with  the 
worthy  Mr.  Wetmore  at  Schenectady,  the  writer  set  his  face 
towards  Utica.  On  his  way  thither  he  preached  at  a  church 
built  for  the  Indians  in  Canajoharie,  at  the  expense  of  the  ven- 
erable "  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign 
Parts."  It  was  then  much  dilapidated,  and  there  were  but 
few  left  even  of  the  white  inhabitants  of  the  place  who  could 
respond  in  the  solemn  services  which  before  the  revolution  had 
gladdened  the  hearts  of  so  many  of  the  sons  of  the  forest. 
Although  some  distance  out  of  his  way,  he  could  not  deny 
himself  the  pleasure  of  going  to  Johnstown,  to  visit  his  fellow- 
laborer  in  the  gospel,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Urquhart.  Here  he  had 
the  pleasure  of  beholding  a  goodly  stone  Church,  with  an 
organ,  built  by  Sir  William  Johnson,  and  endowed  by  that 
munificent  person  with  a  glebe  for  the  support  of  an  Episcopal 
clergyman.  The  Church  had  been  recovered  by  an  appeal  to 
the  legislature,  sitting  in  Albany,  as  the  writer  had  witnessed 
when  a  student  for  orders  in  that  city ;  but  the  glebe  was  still 
in  the  hands  of  those  who  had  seized  on  it  in  the  time  of  the 
war,  when  so  many  prejudices  for  political  reasons  had  been 
excited  against  the  Episcopal  Church.  While  the  Presby- 
terian minister  was  maintained  in  comfort,  Mr.  Urquhart 
received  the  support  only  of  the  few  remaining  Churchmen 
whom  poverty  had  detained  in  the  place.  Whether  this  blot 
on  the  Christian  name  has  ever  been  wiped  away  or  not,  the 
writer  has  never  heard. 

In  passing  from  Johnstown  to  Oneida  Castle,  the  writer 
remembers  to  have  met  a  company  of  natives  in  a  rude  sled, 
drawn  by  two  hardy  horses.  They  were  chiefs  of  the  tribe, 
going  on  a  visit  to  Johnstown.      It  was  winter,   the  snow 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  29 

nearly  two  feet  deep,  and  as  the  wind  swept  across  the  cleared 
ground,  he  remembers  with  what  pleasure  he  drew  near  the 
little  cabins  of  the  Mohawks  and  Oneidas,  now  dwelling 
together  in  peace.  Shenandoah  and  his  warriors  were  from 
home ;  but  the  Queen  and  Queen-Mother,  and  the  Princess, 
were  there,  in  a  little  but  neatly  kept  home,  sitting  round  a 
fire  on  a  clean  swept  hearth,  the  smoke  issuing  through  an 
aperture  in  the  roof  without  a  chimney.  How  cheering  was 
the  comfort  to  the  writer  as  he  was  permitted  to  seat  himself 
in  this  peaceful  dwelling  !  The  bags  of  grain,  to  appearance 
food  in  plenty  for  the  whole  tribe,  were  placed  round  the 
room,  and  pieces  of  meat,  hung  up  for  drying,  were  pendent 
from  every  peg  and  pin  and  pole. 

As  the  royal  dames  sat  round  the  boiling  pot,  making 
strings  and  garters,  and  the  Princess  affixing  brooches  to  a 
blue  piece  of  cloth,  wound  around  her  person,  the  writer  could 
not  but  revert  to  what  is  related  in  history  of  our  British 
ancestors,  when  first  visited  by  the  Romans,  or  when  great 
Alfred,  by  his  genius  and  wisdom,  blessed  as  he  was  by  gos- 
pel light,  civilized  the  English  nation. 

Besides  the  family  of  Shenandoah,  the  writer  visited  an- 
other dwelling,  in  which  a  worthy  Indian  was  on  his  death- 
bed. This  person  had  been  educated  at  Dartmouth  college, 
but  his  name  has  escaped  the  writer's  memory.  He  lay  on  a 
bed  of  skins,  and  some  curtains  of  the  same  hung  between  his 
face  a*nd  the  fire.  He  spoke,  in  good  English,  words  of  kind 
civility,  and  bid  the  writer  welcome.  All  that  he  said  on  the 
subject  of  religion  bespoke  the  true  Christian,  who  hopes  for 
salvation  only  in  the  name  of  a  crucified  Lord.  He  died  soon 
after,  and  the  tribe  was  left  for  a  time  without  a  Christian 
interpreter. 


UTICA. 


The  writer  proceeded  on  his  journey  from  Oneida  to  Utica, 
winch,  foreseeing  its  important  locality,  he  approached  with 
great  interest.  This  now  most  flourishing  city  was  then  but 
a  small  hamlet.  The  slumps  of  the  forest  trees  were  yet 
standing  thick  and   sturdy  in  the  streets,  if  streets  they  may 

3* 


30  bishop   chase's    reminiscences. 

be  termed,  where  scarcely  two  of  them  were  fenced  out. 
Even  Col.  Walker's  house,  for  some  time  the  best  in  the  place, 
was  not  then  built  That  worthy  Christian  gentleman,  long 
the  friend  and  secretary  of  Washington,  received  the  writer  in 
a  small  tenement  which  he  then  occupied,  as  you  approach 
the  site  of  the  town ;  and  it  was  by  his  encouragement  that 
the  writer  succeeded  in  organizing  a  parish,  according  to  the 
act  of  the  legislature  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ellison  had,  at  the 
request  of  the  clergy  in  New  York  two  or  three  winters 
before,  drawn  up  and  procured  to  be  passed  by  that  honorable 
body. 

The  parish  was  named  "  The  Rector,  Wardens,  and  Vestry- 
men of  Trinity  Church,  Utica."  Situated  as  that  little  place 
then  was,  when  so  few  things  seemed  permanent,  when  all 
were  going  and  coming,  and  scarcely  a  plurality  of  persons 
thought  and  acted  together,  this  was  indeed  the  "  day  of  small 
things,"  which,  not  being  "  despised"  or  neglected,  God  hath 
blessed  the  means  since  used  by  abler  hands,  till  the  well- 
fenced  fields  are  indeed  white,  and  the  harvest  plenteous. 
Blessed  be  His  holy  name  that  the  writer  has  seen  this  before 

he  dies ! 

Soon  after  the  organization  of  Trinity  Church,  Utica,  the 
writer  visited  Paris,  in  the  same  county.  Here  he  found  the 
principles  of  the  primitive  Church  had  taken  deep  root  in  the 
hearts  of  several,  among  whom  were  the  families  of  the 
Blakesley's,  the  Seymour's  and  the  Doolittle's.  He  officiated 
there  several  Sundays.  They  met  in  a  small  room  in  a  pri- 
vate house.  Their  first  thought  of  being  gathered  together  as 
a  flock  was  suggested  by  a  Mr.  Aiken,  who,  while  the  writer 
was  a  student  for  orders  with  Mr.  Ellison,  had  applied  in 
Albany  for  directions  and  books.  The  parish  formed  by  his 
fostering  care,  though  a  layman,  appeared  of  sufficient  impor- 
tance to  attract  the  notice  of  the  missionary,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Wetmore,  who  ministered  some  time  among  them.  The 
whole  shows  what  may  be  done  by  the  piety  and  determined 
zeal  even  of  one  or  two  individuals.  Let  those  who  are 
similarly  situated  with  these  worthy  people,  take  example 
from  them. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  31 


AUBURN. 


In  passing  through  Onondaga  county,  the  writer  remembers 
that  the  places  which  are  now  occupied  by  those  flourishing 
and  busy  villages,  Salina  and  Syracuse,  were  but  one  dreary 
salt  marsh.  Except  two  or  three  cabins  for  boiling  salt — most 
unsightly  and  uncomfortable  because  tenanted  only  in  the 
winter — there  were  no  appearances  of  civilized  men.  In  the 
neighborhood  where  Auburn  now  stands,  the  writer  was 
induced  to  tarry  some  time.  A  Mr.  Bostwick  had  then  just 
moved  from  Lanesborough,  Massachusetts,  and  with  his  young 
and  interesting  family,  had  fixed  himself  on  the  public  road  in 
a  small  cabin.  Here  the  divine  services  were  attended  by  a 
number  of  inhabitants,  just  opening  their  farms  in  the  woods 
at  some  distance  on  each  side  of  the  road.  Several  children 
of  Mr.  Bostwick  and  others  were  baptized ;  so  that  soon  there 
were  many  hearts  to  unite  for  the  formation  of  a  regular 
parish. 

Never  will  the  writer  forget  the  pleasure  he  experienced 
when  this  event  took  place ;  for  plainly  did  he  perceive  that 
among  this  people  piety  was  united  to  knowledge ;  and  where 
these  go  hand  in  hand  with  prudence,  permanency  in  Chris- 
tian institutions  may  be  expected.  Since  the  formation  of  this 
parish,  the  writer  has  passed  twice  through  this  lovely  city  of 
Auburn.  In  1823  he  called  on  his  friend  Mr.  Bostwick,  then 
living  in  one  of  the  principal  streets.  "  You  hardly  know  this 
place,"  said  he :  "  the  little  one  has  become  a  thousand." 
"  Where  was  the  cabin  in  which  I  baptized  your  dear  fam- 
ily?" "I  will  show  you,"  said  he,  taking  his  hat  and  a  great 
key :  "  we  must  stop  at  the  Church  as  we  go  along."  And  so 
we  did.  There  it  stood,  where  the  tall  trees  so  lately  occu- 
pied the  ground  and  shut  out  the  light  of  heaven.  It  was 
a  beautiful  edifice,  well  finished  with  pews  and  galleries,  an 
organ,  pulpit  and  altar.  "  This  is  the  tree  which  you  planted: 
may  it  bear  much  fruit  acceptable  t<>  tin-  Heavenly  Husband- 
man!" "But  where,"  asked  the  writer,  ''is  the  place  on 
which  your  cabin  stood]"  "I  will  show  you. "  was  the  reply. 
We  walked  some  distance  beyond  tin*  ( 'lmivli.  and  found  our- 
selves in  the  bustle  of  business;  —  warehouses  on  each  side. 


32  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

lofty  and  well  supplied— streets  paved,  and  sidewalks  nagged. 
"  Here,"  said  he,  "  here  is  the  exact  spot.  But  stop ;  let  those 
coaches  pass,"  at  the  same  time  pulling  the  writer  by  the  arm. 
"Here,"  placing  his  staff  on  the  ground,  "here  is  the  spot 
where  my  cabin  stood,  and  in  which  you  baptized  my  chil- 
dren, preached  to  us,  and  incorporated  our  parish."  What 
reason  we  had  for  mutual  congratulation  and  for  praise  to 
Him  who  alone  gives  the  power  and  the  grace  to  do  his  will, 
the  reader  may  imagine. 

It  was  in  the  winter  of  1798-99  that  the  writer  paid  his 
first  missionary  visit  to  Canadahqua,  for  so  it  was  called  by 
the  Indians,  who  then  were  lingering  in  great  numbers,  as  if 
loth  to  leave  this  lovely  place,  the  home  of  their  fathers.  He 
remembers  to  have  been  most  kindly  received  by  the  Hon. 
Moses  Atwater,  Mr.  Sanburn,  and  others,  who  had  just  begun 
to  occupy  their  partially  finished  dwellings  on  that  beautiful 
street  which  gently  ascends  from  the  lake  for  nearly  two 
miles.  The  court-house  was  then  recently  built,  and  so  far 
finished  as  to  accommodate  a  worshipping  congregation.  Here 
the  villagers  met  for  several  Sundays,  and  witnessed  and  joined 
in  the  solemn  services  of  the  Church.  The  result  was  a  reg- 
ular organization  of  an  Episcopal  parish. 

Proceeding  westward,  the  writer  preached  at  Bloomfield, 
and  on  the  banks  of  the  Genesee  river  at  a  place  since  called 
Avon.  At  the  latter  he  received  many  civilities  from  the 
Hosmer  family.  There  being  then  no  road  to  the  west  except 
an  Indian  trail  through  the  Tonewanta  plains,  uninhabited 
even  to  the  Niagara  river,  the  writer  returned  by  the  way  he 
came,  visiting  the  congregations  he  had  planted  at  Canandai- 
gua,  Auburn  and  Utica.  Thence  he  proceeded  to  pay  his 
respects  to  the  good  Mr.  Nash,  at  that  time  living  in  the  town- 
ship of  Burlington,  Otsego  county. 


FATHER    NASH. 


The  writer  does  not  pretend  to  more  sensibility  than  falls  to 
the  lot  of  most  men,  but  there  was  something  in  this  meeting 
between  Mr.  N.  and  himself  of  a  peculiar  character,  and  cal- 
culated to  call  forth  whatever  of  moral  sensibility  he  possessed. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  33 

It  was  a  meeting  of  two  persons  deeply  convinced  of  the  prim- 
itive and  apostolic  foundation  of  the  Church  to  which,  on 
account  of  its  purity  of  doctrine  and  the  divine  right  of  its 
ministry,  they  had  fled  from  a  chaos  of  confusion  of  other 
sects.  They  were  both  "missionaries,"  though  the  name  was 
not  yet  understood  or  appreciated.  The  one  had  given  up  all 
his  hopes  of  more  comfortable  living  in  the  well-stored  coun- 
try at  the  east,  and  had  come  to  Otsego  county,  to  preach  the 
gospel  and  build  up  the  Church  on  apostolic  ground,  with  no 
assurance  of  a  salary  but  such  as  he  could  glean  from  the  cold 
soil  of  unrenewed  nature,  or  pluck  from  the  clusters  of  the 
few  scions  which  he  might  engraft  into  the  vine  Christ  Jesus. 
He  lived  not  in  a  tent,  as  the  patriarchs  did,  surrounded  with 
servants  to  tend  his  flocks,  and  to  milk  his  kine,  and  "  bring 
him  butter  in  a  lordly  dish ;"  but  in  a  cabin  built  of  unhewn 
logs,  with  scarcely  a  pane  of  glass  to  let  in  light  sufficient 
to  read  his  Bible ;  and  even  this  cabin  was  not  his  own, 
nor  was  he  permitted  to  live  in  one  for  a  long  time  together. 
All  this  was  witnessed  by  the  other,  who  came  to  see  him  and 
helped  him  to  carry  his  little  articles  of  crockery,  holding  one 
handle  of  the  basket  and  Mr.  N.  the  other,  and  as  they  walked 
the  road,  "  talked  of  the  things  pertaining  to  the  kingdom  of 
God." 

The  writer  cannot  refrain  from  tears  in  bringing  to  mind 
the  circumstances  attending  this  interesting  scene.  That 
man,  who  was  afterwards  most  emphatically  called  "  Father 
Nash,"  being  the  founder  of  the  Church  in  Otsego  county — 
who  baptized  great  numbers  of  both  adults  and  children,  and 
thus  was  the  spiritual  father  of  so  many  of  the  family  of 
Christ,  and  who  spent  all  his  life  and  strength  in  toiling  for 
their  spiritual  benefit — was  at  this  period  so  little  regarded  by 
the  Church  at  large,  and  even  by  his  neighbors,  that  he  had 
not  the  means  to  move  his  substance  from  one  cabin  to  an- 
other but  with  his  own  hands,  assisted  <>nly  by  his  wife  and 
small  children  and  a  passing  missionary.  Well  does  the 
writer  remember  how  the  little  one-roomed  cabin  looked  as  he 
entered  it;  its  rude  door,  hung  on  wooden  hinges,  creaking  as 
they  turned;  how  joyful  that  good  man  was  that  he  had  been 
mindful  to  fetch  a  few  nails,  which  he  had  used  in  the  other 


34  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

cabin,  just  left,  for  his  comfort  in  this,  now  the  receptacle  of 
all  his  substance.  These  he  drove  into  the  logs  with  great 
judgment,  choosing  the  place  most  appropriate  for  his  hat,  his 
coat,  and  other  garments  of  himself  and  family.  All  this 
while  his  patient  wife,  who,  directing  the  children  to  kindle 
the  fire,  prepared  the  food  for — whom  ?  Shall  it  be  said  a 
stranger?  No;  but  for  one  who  by  sympathy  felt  himself 
more  their  brother  than  by  all  the  ties  of  nature,  and  who,  by 
the  example  now  set  before  him,  learned  a  lesson  of  inex- 
pressible use  to  him  all  the  days  of  his  subsequent  life. 

Besides  Burlington,  the  writer  visited  several  other  places  in 
which  good  Mr.  Nash  had  his  little  congregations  of  Christian 
worshippers.  Among  these  were  Butternuts  and  Ridgefield, 
since  become  so  numerous  and  respectable.  Thence  he  pro- 
ceeded alone  to  the  Susquehannah  river,  where  at  Ocwaga  he 
instituted  a  regular  parish  of  Church  people.  The  two  fami- 
lies who  paid  him  most  attention,  and  by  whose  assistance 
and  encouragement  he  proceeded  in  this  important  business, 
were  those  of  Messrs.  Homiston.  There  lived  not  far  from 
them  the  Harper  family,  even  then  friendly  to  primitive  truth 
and  order,  being  among  the  chief  and  most  respectable  settlers 
of  the  country.  This  parish,  sustained  by  the  blessing  of  God 
on  the  pious  use  of  the  liturgy,  survived  many  years  of  neg- 
lect, till  visited  by  that  indefatigable  diocesan,  Bishop  Hobart, 
by  whose  fostering  care,  and  that  of  his  worthy  successor,  it 
has  arrived  to  considerable  usefulness,  as  the  writer  has  from 
time  to  time  been  informed  by  many  who  have  emigrated 
from  it  to  the  far  west. 

Stamford,  on  the  Delaware  river,  was  the  next  place  where 
the  writer  made  a  stand.  Here  he  preached  several  Sundays, 
and  was  kindly  treated  by  the  family  of  Andrew  Beers,  the 
astronomer.  So  interesting  were  these  people,  that  the  writer 
was  well-nigh  induced  to  take  up  his  residence  among  them, 
and  with  that  view  assisted  them,  by  the  contribution  of  a 
hundred  dollars  of  his  salary,  to  erect  their  Church.  But  God 
in  his  providence  had  appointed  it  otherwise.  He  went  on  in 
the  pursuit  of  his  missionary  duties  to  the  township  of  Free- 
hold, in  which  was  a  place  then  called  Batavia.  Here  Mr. 
Gunn  was  his  chief  friend  and  supporter  in  forming  a  parish 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  35 

— the  same  friend  who  moved  to  Portsmouth,  Ohio,  and  as- 
sisted him  in  the  like  duties  there,  many  years  afterwards. 

The  few  Episcopalians  who  resided  in  Hudson,  Lunenburg, 
(now  Athens,)  at  New  Lebanon  Springs,  and  in  Putnam 
county,  were  not  neglected ;  so  that  it  was  quite  in  autumn 
of  the  year  1799  before  the  writer  reached  Poughkeepsie, 
Dutchess  county,  where,  and  at  Fishkill,  he  was  invited  to  fix 
himself  as  a  stated  pastor ;  in  order  to  which  it  was  necessary 
he  should  be  ordained  priest.  This  solemn  event  took  place 
in  St.  Paul's  Church,  New  York,  by  the  laying  on  of  hands 
of  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Provost,  on  the  10th  day  of  November, 
1799. 

By  a  reference  to  the  history  of  that  dreadful  disease,  the 
yellow  fever,  it  will  be  seen  that  it  raged  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  in  both  the  years  1798  and  '99,  to  an  alarming  degree, 
even  so  as  to  prevent  the  stated  meetings  of  the  Convention 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  This  fact  accounts  for 
the  deficiency  of  all  public  records  of  the  missionary  services 
rendered  by  the  writer  as  above  stated. 

The  importance  of  missionary  services  in  the  destitute  con- 
dition of  Western  New  York,  could  not  but  occupy  the  mind 
of  the  writer,  although  his  duty  to  his  family  compelled  him 
to  become  a  stated  pastor  in  Poughkeepsie.  The  little  mis- 
sionary fund  had  been  exhausted,  even  by  the  small  stipend 
afforded  him  and  his  predecessor.  To  replenish  this  by  ap- 
pealing to  his  people,  was  at  once  his  pleasure  and  his  duty ; 
and  although  the  contributions  were  limited,  yet  he  never  pre- 
sented them  but  with  a  humble  prayer  that  God  would  bless 
the  day  of  small  things  to  his  own  glory. 


CHAPTER    V. 

FRAGMENT  OF  A  SERMON REV.  DAVENPORT  PHELPS  RECOMMENDED 

BY  THE  WRITER  TO  HOLY  ORDERS STORY  OF  THE  YOUNG  LAW- 
YER. 

In  the  absence  of  all  historical  records  of  merit,  it  is  lawful 
to  make  use  of  such  as  are  of  an  indifferent  quality,  provided 


36  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

the  facts  mentioned  be  of  unquestionable  veracity.  Let  this 
sentiment  be  an  apology  for  inserting  here  a  fragment  of  a 
youthful  sermon,  found  among  some  old  papers,  preserved 
through  many  vicissitudes  and  disasters, — a  shipwreck  and  a 
fire.  There  is  not  an  additional  word  to  the  original  copy, 
though  there  are  some  omissions  of  things  irrelevant. 

A  fragment  of  a  missionary  sermon,  delivered  by  the  writer,  then  Rector  of 
Christ  Church,  Poughkeepsie,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1801. 

GAL.  vi.  10. 

As  we  have  therefore  opportunity,  let  us  do  good  unto  all  men,  especially  unto  them 
who  are  of  the  household  of  faith. 

*  *  *  #  From  the  duty  incumbent  upon  all  Christians 
to  support  the  Ministers  of  Christ  in  general,  we  may  transfer 
our  thoughts  to  a  particular  instance  of  it,  which  was  designed 
to  be  the  subject  of  the  present  discourse.  I  now  mean  the  sup- 
porting of  Missionaries  in  holy  orders,  who  are  to  travel 
through  this  state,  to  preach  the  gospel  in  the  new  settlements 
and  on  the  frontiers — to  gather  in  the  lambs  now  without  a 
Shepherd — and  to  feed  them  with  the  food  of  eternal  life. 

To  call  your  >  attention  to  the  present  performance  of  this 
duty  is  the  design  of  what  is  to  follow.  And  that  all  may  do 
it  with  as  much  cheerfulness  and  satisfaction  to  themselves  as 
possible,  it  may  be  proper  to  insert  some  accoimt  of  the  plan 
itself,  as  pursued  by  the  Convention,  together  with  a  brief 
sketch  of  what  hath  already  been  done,  and  of  what,  with 
God's  blessing,  is  designed  to  be  done,  to  carry  it  into  effect. 

In  October,  1796,  the  Convention  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal Church  in  the  state  of  New  York,  influenced  by  a  desire 
to  promote  the  glory  of  God  in  building  up  his  Church,  passed 
the  following  canon : 

"  It  is  hereby  ordained  and  directed  that  a  committee,  con- 
sisting of  three  clergymen  and  three  laymen, — of  which  the 
Bishop  of  this  Church,  for  the  time  being,  shall  be  chairman, 
— shall  be  elected  at  each  annual  Convention,  and  shall  con- 
tinue in  office  until  their  successors  shall  have  been  appointed. 
They  shall  be  styled  i  The  Committee  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  the  State 
of  New  York,'  and  shall  have  power  to  dispose  of  all  such 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  37 

moneys  as  now  are,  or  hereafter  shall  be,  contributed  for  the 
purpose  aforesaid,  in  such  way  as  they  may  judge  most  expe- 
dient, or  according  to  such  directions  as  may  hereafter  be 
given  them  by  the  Convention  —  making  report  to  each  annual 
Convention  of  their  proceedings  and  of  the  state  of  the  funds. 
And  the  Ministers  of  this  Church  are  hereby  required  and 
enjoined,  in  the  month  of  September  in  each  year,  to  preach  a 
sermon  and  make  a  collection  in  their  respective  congregations, 
for  carrying  this  laudable  plan  into  effect,  and  to  transmit  the 
sums  collected  to  the  treasurer,  who  shall  be  appointed  by  the 
committee." 

Agreeably  to  this  canon  a  committee  was  from  time  to  time 
appointed,  and  during  several  years  collections  were  made  in 
the  congregations  throughout  the  state,  with  the  fruits  of 
which  two  missionaries  were  successively  employed,  who 
travelled  in  the  remote  and  unsettled  parts,  and  visited  the 
vacant  parishes,  throughout  the  state.  The  first  of  these,  the 
Rev.  Robert  G.  Wetmore,  travelled  2386  miles,  performed 
divine  service  and  preached  107  times,  baptized  47  adults  and 
365  infants,  and  distributed  among  the  indigent  and  deserving 
a  number  of  copies  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer.  To  learn 
what  good  this  pious  man  did  by  his  ministrations  through  the 
state,  one  must  travel  where  he  travelled,  and  converse  with 
those  with  whom  he  conversed.  The  benefits  arising  to  the 
Church  of  Christ  and  to  individuals  were  apparently  many 
and  great.  He  exhorted  the  indolent,  comforted  the  despond- 
ing, and  awakened  the  careless :  in  short,  he  so  roused  the 
people  from  their  lethargy,  and  excited  them  to  a  sense  of  their 
religious  duties,  thai  in  the  year  following  there  were  incor- 
porate! in  the  slate  seven  new  congregations,  and  divine  ser- 
vice began  to  be  performed  in  many  places  where  people  had 
never  attempted  it  before. 

The  person  who  succeeded  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wetmore  was  the 

present  speaker,  who  travelled  above  1000  miles,  baptized  14 
adults  and  319  infants,  performed  dii  ine  service  and  preached 
213  times,  and  distributed  many  Prayer-Books,  Catechisms, 

and  Othei  pioUS  and  useful  tracts   among    those  whose  lvumir 

situations  and  contracted  means  <>t*  subsistence  precluded  them 

opportunities  of  being  ntiicrwi.se  supplied 

4 


38  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

It  may  here  be  asked,  What  is  the  reason  which  prevents 
the  continuance  of  such  a  pious  and  benevolent  work,  and 
wherein  so  much  good  was  daily  resulting  to  the  Church  of 
our  blessed  Redeemer  1  The  only  cause  that  can  be  readily 
assigned  is  a  general  one:  —  that,  by  reason  of  the  sickness  in 
New  York,  one  Convention  was  prevented  from  meeting,  and 
so  a  mutual  concert  among  the  different  clergy  and  congrega- 
tions being  destroyed,  the  collections  to  keep  good  the  funds 
of  the  society  were  neglected. 

At  length  it  hath  pleased  Almighty  God  again  to  permit  the 
Convention  to  meet,  and,  under  the  most  auspicious  circum- 
stances of  harmony  and  brotherly  love,  to  consult  for  the  good 
of  the  Church  in  general,  and  to  determine  upon  measures 
which  they  deemed  most  salutary  towards  carrying  into 
speedy  effect  the  plan  now  under  consideration.  The  clergy 
pledged  themselves  to  the  Convention,  that  soon  after  their 
arrival  in  their  respective  parishes  they  would,  in  a  sermon 
and  otherwise,  exhort  their  congregations  to  a  liberal  contri- 
bution, worthy  of  the  magnitude  of  the  design,  and  thus  in 
some  measure  compensate  for  the  late  deplorable  neglect. 

None  but  those  who  have  travelled  through  our  country, 
and,  under  the  influence  of  religious  reflections,  have  consid- 
ered the  state  of  society  in  the  remote  and  western  parts  of  the 
state,  can  be  able  to  form  a  correct  and  adequate  judgment  of 
the  importance  and  necessity  of  sending  ministers  of  Christ  to 
preach  the  gospel  and  to  disseminate  the  seeds  of  religion  and 
morality  among  the  people.  Human  society  is  like  rich  and 
fertile  soil :  it  will  seldom  remain  in  a  negative  state.  The 
weeds  of  error,  of  sin,  and  of  bad  habits,  are  sure  to  vegetate, 
where  the  salutary  seeds  of  religion,  morality,  and  good  order, 
have  not  been  sown  and  cultivated.  This  remark  will  apply, 
with  an  unusual  degree  of  propriety,  to  the  subject  in  question. 
The  most  of  the  settlements  at  the  west  have  been  made  with 
a  rapidity  that  is  rarely  equalled  in  the  peopling  of  any  coun- 
try. Allured  by  the  perhaps  exaggerated  reports  of  the  good- 
ness of  the  soil  and  the  cheapness  of  the  lands,  they  have 
flocked,  in  great  numbers,  to  locate  their  farms  in  an  unin- 
habited wilderness.  The  poorer  sort,  who  are  by  far  the  most 
numerous  class,  find  themselves  greatly  disappointed  in  their 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  39 

expectations,  and  instead  of  the  fancied  affluence  and  ease 
which  their  imaginations  had  pictured,  they  are  surrounded 
by  want,  and  often  an  unhealthy  climate,  requiring  much 
time  before  the  acquisition  of  even  a  comfortable  living  can  be 
rendered  easy. 

These  things,  together  with  the  want  of  public  buildings, 
such  as  mills  and  other  factories,  and  the  time  which  is 
required  to  erect  them,  procrastinate  the  period  when  anything 
like  organized  society  or  religious  institutions  can  be  main- 
tained. For  in  these  days  of  falling  away,  religion  has 
unhappily  changed,  and  instead  of  being  the  first,  is  now  the 
last  thing  to  be  sought  for  to  fill  up  the  cup  of  man's  bless- 
ings. 

In  times  like  these,  when  religion  is  neglected,  and  the  reg- 
ulations of  civilized  societies  are  no  longer  in  action ;  when 
every  man  does  what  is  right  in  his  own  eyes  with  impunity ; 
it  would  be  contrary  to  reason  to  suppose  that  the  enemy  to 
religion  and  to  the  happiness  of  mankind  would  remain  idle, 
or  suffer  the  opportunity  to  go  unimproved.  Where  there  is 
not  a  tendency  to  good,  there  is  always  a  tendency  to  evil. 
Man  is  an  active  being,  and  seldom  will  remain  neuter. 
Hence  it  is,  that,  in  these  new  settlements,  religion  and  good 
habits  being  neglected,  irreligion,  profaneness.  and  licentious- 
ness, are  sure  to  be  promoted  in  their  stead. 

It  cannot  be  otherwise  in  this  world  of  trial.  If  goodness 
sleeps,  wickedness  wakes  ;  if  virtuous  habits  decay  and  cease, 
vicious  ones  are  sure  to  increase  and  domineer ;  and  the  oppor- 
tunity afforded  the  latter  of  these  to  triumph  in  the  times  we 
are  now  speaking  of,  in  the  new  settlements,  is  very  great. 
The  hand  even  of  civil  law,  in  matters  that  relate  to  religion 
and  morals,  is  but  very  feeble.  The  wicked  man  does  what 
is  right  in  his  own  eyes ;  and  the  public  barriers  to  vice  being 
never  set  up,  even  the  good  arc  in  great  danger  of  being 
brought  into  an  agreement  with  sin.  and  to  think  no  more  of 
God,  virtue  or  religion.  Or  if  this  be  not  the  case  with  the 
latter  sort,  who  have  Learned  elsewhere  to  fear  God,  none  can 
deny  the  liability  of  the  young  and  rising  generation  to  be 
poisoned  and  undone. 

I  have  almost  invariably  found,  in  visiting  the  settlements 


40  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

at  the  westward,  that  in  neighborhoods  where  poverty,  dis- 
union, or  other  causes,  had  prevented  the  procuring  of  regular 
preaching,  and  the  performance  of  regular  prayers,  and  the 
administration  of  Christian  sacraments,  there  vice  was  always 
most  vociferous,  and  infidelity  most  impudent,  conceited  and 
domineering;  and  every  day  seemed  to  carry  them  further 
and  further  from  the  probability  of  ever  having  religious  regu- 
larity established  among  them. 

I  mention  these  things  to  show  how  necessary  it  is  for  all 
good  people  to  use  their  utmost  endeavors  to  send  the  minis- 
ters of  God  among  these  sheep  in-  the  wilderness,  and,  by  the 
blessing  of  the  same  Almighty  Being  on  their  exertions,  to 
reclaim  those  who  are  wandering  from  the  truth,  to  confirm 
the  wavering,  and  to  build  up  those  who  are  already  in  the 
faith.  For  our  encouragement  in  doing  this,  we  ought  to  be 
put  in  mind  that  there  is  every  reason  to  hope  that  much 
good  will  be  done  to  the  Church  of  Christ  and  to  civil  society 
in  this  way.  For  although  the  missionaries  are  directed  to 
tarry  but  a  few  Sundays  in  each  place,  that  they  may  make 
their  usefulness  as  extensive  as  possible ;  yet  enough  may  be 
done,  even  in  this  short  space  of  time,  to  animate  the  hopes  of 
Christians,  and  to  unite  the  endeavors  of  the  well-disposed  in 
setting  up  the  worship  of  God  on  the  holy  Sabbath,  and  in  the 
reading  of  such  pious  sermons  as  will  serve  to  inflame  their 
zeal,  correct  their  judgments,  and  meliorate  their  manners. 

The  services  of  the  Church  are  now  constantly  performed 
—  the  word  of  God  is  purely  preached  —  and  many  persons 
are  now  trained  up  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the 
Lord,  —  in  places  where  the  beginnings  were  no  greater  than 
these.  The  blessing  of  our  heavenly  Father  most  invariably 
attends  the  endeavors  of  those  who  work  with  him  for  the 
good  of  the  souls  of  men.  Instances  of  this  kind  have  taken 
place  even  since  the  present  society  for  the  propagation  of  the 
gospel  in  this  state  have  begun  their  exertions ;  and  surely  none 
want  to  be  informed  of  the  numerous  instances  of  this  nature 
which  occurred  during  the  pious  and  benevolent  labors  of  the 
society  of  the  same  nature  in  England.  Even  the  flourishing 
Church  of  Christians  in  the  place  to  which  we  have  the  happi- 
ness of  belonging,  perhaps  never  would  have  been  able  to  sur- 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  41 

mount  the  difficulties  of  its  first  establishment,  had  it  not  been 
for  the  contributions  which  that  society  yearly  afforded. 

We  therefore  must  feel  ourselves  bound,  by  the  principles 
of  gratitude,  to  contribute  to  the  necessities  of  those  who  are 
now  in  the  same  situation  from  which  we  have  been  raised 
by  the  bounty  of  others.  So  that  we  are  not  only  encouraged 
to  give  of  our  abundance  towards  the  support  of  the  ministers 
of  God  who  are  to  be  employed  in  this  itinerant  plan,  from 
the  well-grounded  hope  that  they  will  meet  with  success ;  but 
we  are  obligated  to  do  it  by  the  consideration  of  the  benefits 
which  we  ourselves  have  received,  by  the  goodness  of  God,  in 
a  similar  way. 

We  all  profess  to  thank  God,  every  time  we  meet  together 
in  this  holy  Church,  for  uthe  means  of  grace"  — by  which  I 
suppose  we  mean  the  preaching,  prayers,  and  sacraments  of 
his  Church.  But  in  what  way  can  we  manifest  that  we  are 
sincere  in  these  devotions  and  thanksgivings,  better  than  by 
using  our  endeavors  to  extend  them  to  those  who  are  des- 
titute? Can  the  rich  man  be  supposed  to  be  earnest,  in 
returning  thanks  to  God  for  the  bountiful  supplies  of  food 

^£  *f?  TV  *7\? 

[The  remainder  of  this  sermon  is  lost.  On  the  outside  of 
the  original  MS.  are  these  words  and  figures,  which  the  printer 
copies  literally  : 

"  This  sermon  was  preached  in  Poughkeepsie,  the  27th  of 
September,  1801.  The  collection  made  thereby  in  Christ 
Church,  was  $19  32-100,  and  75-100  of  Miss  Phebe  Mesier. 
making  in  all,  .$20  7-100. 

"  Preached  at  Fishkill,  October  11th,  1801.  The  collection 
amounted  to  13  dollars  and  five  shillings  and  3  pence. 

20  07 
13  65 


33  72 
"  Thirty-three  dollars  and  seventy-two  cents  —  to  be  sent. 
on  the  first  opportunity,  to  the  treasurer  of  the  committee  of 
the  I*.  E.  C.  tor  the  propagation  of  the  gospel  in  the  state  of 
New  York."] 

At  the  resignation  of  Bishop  Provost,  the  writer  had  assisted 
in  electing  that  most  amiable  of  men.  Dr.  Benjamin  Moore,  to 
fill  the  Episcopate  of  New  York.     This  was  m  the  year  of  our 

4* 


42  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

Lord  1801.  Being  consecrated,  that  pious  and  worthy  prelate 
took  great  interest  in  the  success  of  the  Diocesan  Missionary- 
Society,  and  never  seemed  more  happily  engaged  than  when 
conversing  with  the  writer  about  the  sheep  and  lambs  in  the 
wilderness,  whom  he  had  been  the  humble  instrument  of 
gathering  into  the  fold.  But  where  could  there  be  found  a 
proper  person  to  go  among  them,  to  take  care  of  them,  and 
feed  them  with  the  bread  of  life  ?  This  devout  wish  was 
soon  answered.  The  writer  returned  to  Poughkeepsie,  and  as 
he  was  sitting  quietly  in  his  little  dwelling  in  Canon  street,  in 
that  village,  a  loud  rap  was  heard,  and  the  name  of  Daven- 
port Phelps  was  announced.  This  gentleman  had  been  long 
known  to  the  family  of  the  writer's  father,  and  much  esteemed 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Dartmouth  college — being  nephew  to 
the  president  and  grandson  of  the  founder  of  that  institution, 
Dr.  Eleazar  Wheelock. 

"You  know,"  said  he,  "I  have  long  been  attached  to  the 
Church ;  how  I  love  her  doctrines  and  esteem  her  discipline. 
I  now  tell  you,  that  I  feel  it  my  duty,  if  found  qualified,  to 
seek  for  holy  orders.  I  am  uninformed  how  to  proceed,  hav- 
ing never  seen  any  rules  on  the  subject;  but  do  you  think 
that  the  Bishop  of  New  York  will  ordain  me?"  None  but 
such  as  knew  the  person  speaking,  and  the  necessities  of  the 
Church  at  that  day,  particularly  at  the  west,  can  imagine  the 
feelings  of  pleasing  surprise  which  the  above  address  occa- 
sioned. His  suavity  of  manners,  his  more  than  ordinary  abil- 
ities, and  very  respectable  acquirements,  and,  above  all,  his 
character  for  true  piety  of  heart  and  holiness  of  life,  seemed  to 
constitute  him  a  God-send  to  the  Church,  and  most  gladly  was 
a  letter  written  to  the  Bishop,  telling  him  the  whole  story, 
most  earnestly  recommending  Mr.  Davenport  Phelps  for  or- 
ders, and  that  he  might  be  appointed  to  minister  in  the  field 
of  labor  so  widely  spread  in  the  west. 

This  letter  met  with  a  favorable  reception,  and  that 
respected  gentleman  returned  to  Poughkeepsie  a  clergyman  in 
full  orders,  and  with  a  missionary  appointment  for  the  western 
part  of  New  York.  What  followed  in  that  good  man's  useful 
life,  is  recorded  in  the  history  of  the  Church,  and  in  the  hearts 
of  many  now  living. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  43 

story  of  the  young  lawyer. 

There  lived  in  Poughkeepsie,  at  this  time,  a  venerable  lady 
and  her  talented  son-in-law.  The  former  was  exceedingly 
anxions  about  the  latter,  because  of  his  loose  and  infidel  opin- 
ions on  religious  subjects ;  and  yet  few  men  were  more  amia- 
ble in  manners  or  more  sprightly  in  conversation.  "  O,  sir," 
said  the  lady  to  the  writer,  "I  wish  you  to  have  a  serious 
conversation  with  my  son-in-law,  on  the  subject  of  Chris- 
tianity. Perhaps  he  may  hearken  to  you,  though  to  all  of  us 
he  turns  a  deaf  ear  whenever  we  speak  on  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures." 

A  proposal  of  this  nature  seemed  to  be  identified  with  the 
writer's  profession.  Accordingly  a  day  was  appointed  when 
the  lady  would  spend  a  social  afternoon  with  the  writer  and 
his  family,  there  being  no  doubt  that  the  interesting  young 
lawyer  would,  if  properly  invited,  join  the  party  at  tea.  The 
interview  took  place  as  was  expected,  and,  in  the  full  flow 
of  talk,  something  was  designedly  introduced  touching  the 
Christian  religion.  Contrary  to  the  expectation  of  his  relative 
and  friends,  this  interesting  gentleman  did  neither  evade  nor 
oppose  what  was  said,  but  candidly  confessed  he  was  differ- 
ently impressed  on  that  subject  from  what  he  had  been. 
"Till  a  few  days  ago,"  said  he,  "I  should  have  brought  for- 
ward my  preliminaries,  and  before  the  threshold  of  Chris- 
tianity were  passed,  I  would  have  insisted  that  they  be  all 
satisfactorily  answered ;  but  at  present  I  feel  differently  dis- 
posed." "And  what  lias  wrought  the  change?"  asked  the 
writer.  "O,  sir,"  said  he,  "I  must  tell  the  whole  story  —  it 
relates  chiefly  to  General  Hamilton" 

"You  know,"  said  he,  "that  preeminent  character  —  how 
that  he  is  not  only  the  greatest  in  the  field,  in  the  senate,  and 
at  the  bar,  but  also  the  most  a-ree.-d.le  man  in  social  inter- 
course. In  pursuit  of  his  professional  duties,  lie  passes  from 
New  York  to  Albany  to  attend  the  higher  OOUrtS,  and  Pough- 
keepsie   is  his  stop|>niLr-|>l;i<'e    for    rest    and  social  chat.      We 

young  lawyers  delight  i«>  meet  him  al  Hendrickson's  Cavern, 

and  there  breathe   together   the   atmosphere  Of  wit   and  saliiv. 
Not  long  since  he  passed  by;  we  gathered  round  linn,  and  he 


44  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

greeted  us  with  his  usual  cordiality.  But  there  was  some- 
thing altered  in  his  wit —  it  was  solemn,  yet  more  affectionate. 
At  length,  to  break  the  spell,  /  ventured,  as  erst,  a  story,  the 
edge  of  which  was  ridicule  against  Christians  and  their  creed. 
As  I  finished  the  anecdote,  instead  of  the  loud  laugh  and 
responsive  tale,  the  General  gravely  asked  me,  if  I  knew  what 
I  had  been  talking  of?  Confusion  is  the  best  name  I  can 
give  my  feelings  and  behavior  before  the  great  man,  at  such  a 
question  from  his  lips.  Seeing  my  embarrassment,  he  said  he 
did  not  design  to  give  me  pain,  but  by  his  question  to  call  my 
attention  to  his  own  case. 

'"Not  many  months  ago,'  said  he,  cIwas,  as  you  are, 
doubtful  of  the  truths  of  Christianity  ;  but  some  circumstances 
turned  my  thoughts  to  the  investigation  of  the  subject,  and  I 
now  think  differently.  I  had  been  in  company  with  some 
friends  of  a  similar  sentiment  in  New  York.  I  had  indulged 
in  remarks  much  to  the  disadvantage  of  Christians  and  dis- 
paragement of  their  religion.  I  had  gone  further  than  ever 
before  I  had  done  in  this  way.  Coming  home,  I  stood  late  at 
night  on  the  door-steps,  waiting  for  my  servant.  In  this 
moment  of  stillness,  my  thoughts  returned  to  what  had  just 
passed  at  my  friend's  and  on  what  I  had  said  there.  And 
what  if  the  Christian  religion  be  true  after  all  ?  The  thought 
certainly  was  natural,  and  it  produced  in  my  bosom  the  most 
alarming  feelings.  I  was  conscious  that  I  had  never  examined 
it  —  not  even  with  that  attention  which  a  small  retaining  fee 
requires  in  civil  cases.  In  this,  I  hold  myself  bound  to  make 
up  my  mind  according  to  the  laws  of  evidence ;  and  shall 
nothing  be  done  of  this  sort,  in  a  question  that  involves  the 
fate  of  man's  immortal  being?  Where  everything  is  at  stake, 
shall  I  bargain  all  without  inquiry?  Wilfully  blinding  my 
own  eyes,  shall  I  laugh  at  that  which,  if  true,  will  laugh  me 
to  scorn  in  the  day  of  judgment?  These  questions  did  not 
allow  me  to  sleep  quietly.  In  the  morning  I  sent  to  my  friends, 
the  clergy,  for  such  books  as  treated  on  the  evidences  of  Chris- 
tianity. I  read  them,  and  the  result  is  that  I  believe  the  reli- 
gion of  Christians  to  be  the  truth — that  Jesus  Christ  is  the 
Son  of  God  —  that  he  made  an  atonement  for  our  sins  by  his 
death,  and  that  he  rose  for  our  justification.' 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  45 

"  This  is  the  substance  of  General  Hamilton's  declaration 
to  me  at  Hendrickson's,  and  you  may  judge  how  I  feel  since. 
As  I  have  followed  the  General  in  many  other  respects,  so 
would  I  imitate  him  here.  Will  you  lend  me  books,  that  I 
may  read  as  he  did,  before  I  give  my  opinion?" 

The  books  were  accordingly  taken  to  his  house,  but  he 
never  read  them.  A  press  of  business  intervened.  He  put 
off  his  duty  till  a  more  convenient  season ;  that  season  never 
came  till  it  was  too  late.  A  sudden  disease  deprived  him  of 
reason  and  of  life.  Thus  this  talented  and  interesting  young 
lawyer  passed  from  a  temporal  to  an  eternal  state  —  and  let 
the  word  of  God  tell  the  rest.  The  story  of  General  Hamil- 
ton, which  this  lamented  person  was  the  means  of  communi- 
cating to  the  writer,  ought  not  to  be  forgotten.  It  was,  from 
the  time  the  writer  heard  it,  of  the  deepest  interest ;  and  when 
the  tidings  came  of  the  General's  death,  it  formed  the  basis  of 
a  sermon  preached  in  Poughkeepsie,  on  the  2d  day  of  July, 
1804.  This  story  is  recorded  here,  because  it  forms  a  part  of 
the  writer's  Reminiscences.  And  it  is  because  he  feels  bound 
to  leave  to  future  generations  his  decided  testimony  against 
the  practice  of  duelling,  that  he  inserts  in  this  place  the  ser- 
mon itself. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

DISCOURSE    ON    THE    DEATH    OF    GEN.    ALEXANDER    HAMILTON. 

Delivered  in  Poughkeepsie,  on  the  2d  of  July,  1804,  by  the  writer  of  this 
memoir,  now  first  printed  from  the  original  MS.  xcithout  alteration. 

LAMENTATIONS,  v.  15,  1G. 
The  joy  of  our  heart  is  ceased  ;  our  dance  is  tamed  into  mourning.     The  crown  is 
fallen  from  our  head :  woe  unto  us  that  we  haw  sinned. 

Thus  dors  (he  pious  Jeremiah  lament  the  fate  of  his  unfor- 
tunate country  —  thus  does  he  mourn  over  the  sorrows  of  his 
people,  while  he  acknowledges  the  true  cause  by  which  they 
had  been  produced.  His  countrymen  were  is  chains  under 
the  proud  tyrant  of  Babylon,  deprived  of  their  liberty,  of  their 


46  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

city,  and  of  their  religion,  with  nothing  to  console  them  but 
the  remembrance  of  glory  lost,  lost  by  their  own  wilful  and 
obstinate  transgression  of  the  will  of  Heaven.  He  takes  up 
the  song  of  lamentation,  and  uttereth  his  words  among  tears 
of  sorrow :  —  that  sin  had  entered  into  the  world,  and  its  foot- 
steps were  marked  with  misery  and  blood  —  that  the  certain 
consequences  of  it,  the  wrath  of  an  offended  God,  had  fallen 
on  his  brethren,  and  kindred,  and  nation.  He  feeleth  as  every 
good  man  would  feel,  and  poureth  out  his  woimded  heart  in 
the  words  of  the  text : 

"The  joy  of  our  heart  is  ceased;  our  dance  is  turned  into 
mourning.  The  crown  is  fallen  from  our  head :  woe  unto  us 
that  we  have  sinned." 

That  the  same  language  may  be  adopted  by  every  Ameri- 
can who  feels  for  the  honor  of  his  country,  we  shall  see  by 
recurring  to  the  solemn  occasion  which  has  this  day  called 
us  together.  Our  country  now  sits  on  the  grave  of  one  of 
her  greatest  sons,  and  mourns  the  death  of  one,  who,  under 
a  smiling  Providence,  had  a  principal  agency  in  conducting 
her  to  domestic  prosperity,  to  honor  and  glory,  among  the 
nations  of  the  earth.  She  calls  on  her  surviving  children  to 
gather  round  his  grave  to  commemorate  his  heroic  achieve- 
ments —  to  celebrate  his  virtues  —  to  drop  the  tear  of  pity 
over  his  fate — to  cover  his  failings  with  the  mantle  of  charity, 
and  to  deduce  such  reflections  as  are  calculated  to  make  them 
wise  and  virtuous. 

This  then  be  our  employment  —  this  be  our  present  work  ! 
—  And  may  God  grant  us  his  grace,  rightly  to  judge  and  to 
discriminate  between  the  good  and  the  evil,  and  to  improve 
all  to  our  eternal  benefit,  and  the  glory  of  His  great  name. 

This  great  man,  whose  death  we  now  deplore,  was  distin- 
guished for  his  talents  and  magnanimity  in  the  early  stages  of 
his  life.  In  more  advanced  periods,  he  shone  as  a  soldier,  a 
statesman,  and  orator.  The  walls  of  Yorktown  can  bear 
testimony  of  his  military  skill,  intrepidity  and  valor,  when 
engaged  in  defending  his  country's  cause.  He  enjoyed  the 
full  confidence  of  our  great  Washington,  the  man  whose  deeds 
shall  be  had  in  everlasting  remembrance.  He  fought  by  his 
side  in  the  field,  and  assisted  him  by  his  counsel  in  the  camp. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  47 

When  the  din  of  war  was  over,  he  exchanged  the  coat  of  mail 
for  the  garb  of  peace  and  the  gown  of  state.  Our  constitution 
was  framed  and  carried  into  execution  by  the  assistance  of 
his  discerning  mind  and  powerful  arm.  Under  his  auspices, 
public  credit  was  established  and  commerce  poured  in  her 
treasures  upon  us. 

As  an  orator  in  the  cause  of  truth  and  private  right,  he 
shone  with  distinguished  lustre.  The  friend  of  man,  he 
defended  the  cause  of  the  oppressed,  and  made  the  heart  of 
the  orphan  and  widow  to  sing  for  joy.  He  disdained  duplic- 
ity, and  was  above  the  arts  of  fraud  and  deception.  Malice 
and  revenge  dwelt  not  in  his  bosom,  while  his  heart,  with  his 
hand,  was  given  to  his  friend.  In  short,  he  was  revered  and 
beloved  by  all  who  knew  his  worth ;  he  was  feared  by  his 
rivals,  and  hated  only  by  the  wicked,  the  malicious  and  irre- 
claimable. On  him  had  a  grateful  country  already  fixed  her 
eyes,  as  on  one  in  whom  she  could  most  implicitly  rely  in  the 
day  of  trouble  and  extremity. 

But  alas  !  with  too  much  truth  can  her  sons  now  take  up 
the  plaintive  song  of  the  prophet,  and  say  with  him,  ''The  joy 
of  our  heart  has  ceased;  our  dance  is  turned  into  mourning." 
The  great  man,  whose  talents  we  admired,  whose  virtues  we 
revered,  and  in  whom  we  confided  as  our  best  earthly  stay  in 
time  of  need,  is  now  no  more.  Death  has  dropped  the  curtain 
which  separates  him  forever  from  time.  "  He  hath  gone  to 
his  long  home,  and  the  mourners  go  about  the  streets." 

Would  to  God  we  could  stop  here,  and  see  nothing  but  the 
hand  of  God  taking  him,  by  a  common  death,  to  himself! 
But  in  this  we  are  not  indulged.  As  much  as  we  revere  his 
name,  esteem  his  virtues,  and  lament  his  death,  yet  let  us  not 
be  so  lost  to  virtue  and  the  principles  of  our  holy  religion,  as 
to  pass  over,  without  the  most  pointed  disapprobation,  the 
barbarous,  the  inhuman  and  wicked  practice,  by  the  compli- 
ance with  which  he  was  brought  to  an  untimely  end.  Little 
did  our  Washington,  the  lather  of  his  country,  think,  when  he 
refused  to  enter  his  name  on  the  list  of  duellists,  that  the  man 
whom  lie  delighted  to  honor,  who  shared  his  w  aim.  si  friend- 
ship, would  so  soon  fall  a  sacrifice  to  this  abominable  practice. 
Wen-  he  n«»\v  among  us.  he  would  cry  out,  in  the  language  of 


48  BISHOP    CHASE'S    REMINISCENCES. 

David,  the  defender  of  Israel,  uttered  at  the  fall  of  Saul  and 
Jonathan,  their  King  and  Prince—  "  The  beauty  of  Israel  is 
slain  in  high  places  !  How  are  the  mighty  fallen :  tell  it  not 
in  Gath,  publish  it  not  in  the  streets  of  Ascalon,  lest  the 
daughters  of  the  Philistines  rejoice,  lest  the  daughters  of  the 
uncircumcised  triumph ! " 

A  sad  comment  on  the  dreadful  consequences  of  duelling  is 
now  before  us.  You  behold  a  man,  the  ornament  of  the  age, 
and  the  pride  and  boast  of  his  countrymen,  snatched  away, 
by  a  violent  death,  amidst  all  his  usefulness,  and  when  in  the 
full  career  of  his  greatness ;  torn  from  the  arms  of  a  tender 
and  amiable  wife  and  young  and  numerous  family,  who  now 
more  than  ever  need  the  counsel,  the  direction  and  love  of  a 
husband  and  father.  O,  honor,  honor!  false  and  mistaken 
principle !  If  these  are  thy  trophies,  what  but  a  heart  of 
stone  could  cherish  thee ! 

If  we  could  be  permitted  to  see,  at  one  view,  the  dreadful 
effects  of  the  practice  of  duelling;  if  we  could  add  to  the  many 
losses   which   the  public   frequently   sustains,  the  distresses 
which  it  occasions  to  private  families ;  if  we  could  draw  aside 
the  curtain  of  domestic  retirement,  and  hear  the  heart-rending 
sighs,  and  feel  the  full  weight  of  the  agonizing  sorrows,  of  a 
wife  and   mother,  weeping  over  her  shrieking  and  orphan 
children ;  if  we  would  contemplate  those  children,  from  afflu- 
ence and  high  expectations  reduced  to  want  and  penury :  — 
on  the  other  hand,  if  we  could,  in  casting  our  eyes  on  the  vic- 
torious combatant,  look   into  the  recesses  of  his  heart,  and 
behold  it  devoid  of  all  that  feeling  and  sensibility  which  desig- 
nate a  man  from  a  demon,  or  torn  to  pieces  and  blackened 
with  the  remorse  of  a  murderer ;  if  we  could  see  him,  even 
amidst   the  flattery  of  his  sycophants  or   the  caresses  of  a 
wicked  world,  feeling  like  a  second  Cain,  the  murderer  of  his 
brother,  a  fugitive  and  a  vagabond  in  the  earth ;  —  it  could 
not  fail  of  rousing  every  honest  sentiment  of  our  hearts,  and 
calling  forth  every  energy  of  our  minds,  in  detesting  and  dis- 
countenancing the  practice.     Barely  the  mention  of  it  would 
be  enough  to  chill  the  heart  of  sensibility,  and  make  us  fly 
with  horror  from  the  man  who  would  uphold  it  in  society. 
Such  would  be  the  result  of  a  due  and  thorough  considera- 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  49 

tion  of  the  baneful  effects  of  this  custom,  even  with  regard 
only  to  this  world.  What  then  must  be  his  sentiments  of  it, 
who,  to  all  this,  adds  a  firm  belief  of  an  eternal  world  and 
future  retribution  ?  The  dread  command  and  awful  denun- 
ciations of  an  Almighty  Jehovah  stand  ever  before  him  — 
"Whosoever  sheddeth  man's  blood,  by  man  shall  his  blood 
be  shed."  —  "Thou  shalt  do  no  murder  —  ye  shall  take  no 
satisfaction  for  the  life  of  a  murderer."  —  "No  murderer  hath 
eternal  life  abiding  in  him."  —  "  The  murderers  shall  have 
their  part  in  the  lake  that  burnetii  with  fire  and  brimstone, 
which  is  the  second  death." 

And  by  these  manctates  and  tremendous  threatenings  of  the 
God  of  heaven,  the  man  of  principle  can  see  no  difference 
between  him  who  murdereth  his  friend  on  the  weak  laws  of 
worldly  honor,  and  him  who  stabbeth  him  in  secret.  Let 
subterfuges  be  raised  without  number  —  let  the  wicked  cus- 
tom be  sanctioned  by  all  the  force  which  a  deluded  world  can 
give  it  —  let  the  mighty  men  of  the  earth  combine  and  frame 
laws  to  systematize  the  practice  —  yet  the  God  who  reigneth 
above  is  the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  forever.  With  him 
there  is  no  variableness  nor  shadow  of  turning.  His  ways 
are  equal  in  all  ages,  and  the  judgment  of  his  mouth  remain- 
eth  forever.  No  man  can  rush  himself,  or  send  another, 
uncalled,  into  His  presence,  without  coming  under  the  dread 
sentence  of  His  law.  The  crime  before  him  admits  of  no  pal- 
liation but  that  which  is  effected  by  the  tears  of  repentance 
through  the  atoning  blood  of  a  Redeemer. 

This  is  the  testimony,  this  is  the  judgment  which  our 
holy  religion  pronounces  against  the  principles  of  duelling. 
Would  to  God  that  our  countrymen  could  feel  its  importance, 
and  be  governed  by  its  force.  The  cobweb  justifications  of  it, 
now  held  sacred  by  men  of  honor,  would  then  be  dispersed, 
and  vanish  like  mist  before  the  early  breeze  and  morning  sun. 

After  what  has  been  said,  who  can  return,  without  the 
most  painful  sensations,  to  the  sad  reflection,  that  the  great 
man  whose  death  we  this  day  deplore,  fell  in  the  very  act  of 
giving  support,  by  his  example  and  compliance,  to  this  inhu- 
man and  unchristian  practice!  A  conscious  blush  must  suf- 
fuse the  cheek  of  his  panegyrist  when  he  sees  that  the  man 

5 


50  BISHOP   chase's   reminiscences. 

who,  in  many  things,  " stood  alone"  in  greatness  and  magna- 
nimity, bowed  to  the  idol,  and  gave  up  his  body  as  a  victim  on 
the  altar  of  the  bloody  Moloch  of  this  world.  O,  weak  and 
imperfect  man!  how  do  thy  laurels  fade  and  thy  honors 
wither,  when  thou  treadest  on  forbidden  ground ! 

Every  man  of  principle  must  condemn  the  act,  while  he 
must  acknowledge  that  it  was  attended  with  all  the  circum- 
stances which  are  calculated  to  soothe  and  comfort  the  hearts 
of  his   friends   and   countrymen.      The   extreme   reluctance 
which  marked   his  every  step  in   his  progress  toward   this 
dreadful  deed  —  the  anxiety  which  he  discovered  to  have  the 
unhappy  difference  amicably  adjusted  —  his  solemn  declara- 
tions which  accompanied  his  will,  that  he  was  opposed  to  the 
practice  of  duelling  from  religious  principles,  that  he  bore  no 
enmity  to  his  antagonist,  that  he  meant  not  to  injure  him,  let 
what  would  be  the  consequence;    all   this,   added  to  what 
passed  just  before  his  death,  almost  too  affecting  to  be  men- 
tioned, seems  to  dispel  the  gloom  that  hangs  over  this  bloody 
transaction,  and  to  spread  around  the  bright  rays  of  Christian 
hope  —  hope  which  attends  the  soul  of  the  deceased  through 
the  dark  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  to  the  radiant  throne 
of  a  merciful  Saviour,  who  died  to  save  repenting  sinners. 

Blessed  be  God  that,  though  the  name  of  Hamilton  be 
added,  contrary  to  his  heart's  intentions,  to  the  catalogue  of 
duellists,  (for  which  all  good  men  lament,)  it  is  also  added  to 
the  host  of  martyrs  and  apostles  who,  with  their  last  and 
dying  breath,  have  borne  testimony  to  the  truth  of  the 
Christian  religion.  You  that  have  read  the  letter  of  our  great 
and  pious  Diocesan,  Bishop  Moore,  will  feel  the  force  of  this 
remark  and  do  justice  to  the  memory  of  the  deceased. 

Let  infidels  hence  be  reminded  that  they  but  expose  them- 
selves to  shame  and  infamy  in  pleading  the  cause  of  deism, 
when  the  opinion  of  this  great  man,  founded  on  strict  investi- 
gation, appears  against  them.  Little  will  it  avail  in  the  mind 
of  every  considerate  person,  to  hear  the  weak  cavils  of  those 
infidels  who  read  a  little,  think  less,  and  talk  a  great  deal, 
when  he  considers  that  the  comprehensive  mind  of  this  great 
master  of  reasoning  gave  its  full  assent  to  the  truth  of  our  holy 
faith. 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  51 

The  great  lesson  we  all  have  to  learn  is,  to  make  use  of  our 
united  efforts  in  discountenancing  the  barbarous  practice  by 
which  we  have  been  deprived  of  so  much  worth  and  great- 
ness. Let  us  raise  our  voices  against  it ;  and  by  every  means 
in  our  power  relieve  our  country  of  its  galling  chain.  Let  us 
shun  the  man  who  would  justify  it,  that  our  children,  and  the 
world,  may  know  the  force  of  that  abhorrence  in  which  we 
hold  it.  Though  our  country  has  sinned,  perhaps  irreclaima- 
bly,  in  that  they  have  not  opposed,  by  a  just  execution  of  the 
law,  the  first  inroads  of  this  practice,  yet  let  it  not  be  said  that 
we  have  been  wanting  in  our  duty.  Let  us  arise  like  a  band 
of  patriotic  Christians,  and  drive  from  our  society  the  bloody 
Moloch.  This  will  be  doing  that  which  our  Hamilton,  on  his 
dying  bed,  pledged  himself  to  God  and  man  he  would  do 
should  his  life  be  spared.  May  his  intentions  be  fulfilled  by 
us  and  all  his  beloved  countrymen. 


CONSCIENCE    ITS    OWN    ACCUSER. 


In  the  year  1803  or  4,  the  writer  taught  the  academy  in 
Poughkeepsie,  New  York.  About  half  his  pupils  were  well 
advanced  youths,  and  the  other  half  were  small  boys  of  seven 
or  nine  years  of  age.  Among  the  latter  were  three  sons  of  a 
rich  widow  lady  in  New  York,  who,  to  show  her  love  to  her 
departed  husband,  lavished  her  bounties  on  her  little  boys, 
who  were  the  smallest  and  youngest  in  the  school.  Among 
other  things  of  great  extravagance,  she  would  insist  on  their 
sleeping  on  a  better  bed  than  the  rest  of  the  students,  and  the 
bedstead  also  must  be  of  a  better  quality. 

"I  will  purchase  a  new  bedstead,"  said  she,  "and  send  it 
to  you  from  New  York ;  there  is  none  here  fit  for  my  precious 
babes  to  sleep  on."  Accordingly  the  bedstead  came.  It  was 
indeed  a  splendid  affair  for  those  days  —  large,  wide,  and 
having  a  canopy.  What  distinguished  it  particularly  were 
wide  embossed  brass  ornaments,  which  were  made  to  cover  a 
much  larger  space  than  usual,  concealing  the  ends  of  the 
screws  thai    kept  the  bedstead  together.     These  were  fixed  to 

the  upright  posts  hy  one  small  screw,  perforating  one  side,  or 
rather  the   neck,  of  the  shining  ornaments.     The   bedstead 


52  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

stood  in  the  best  room  in  the  second  story,  and  the  door 
opened  directly  into  the  hall.  There  were  many  who  looked 
in  on  this  new  comer :  the  splendid  bedstead  and  superior 
bearings  were  observed  by  nearly  all  the  boys.  Some  asked 
if  good  and  costly  bedsteads  made  boys  sleep  sweeter  than 
plain  ones,  or  even  strong  and  clean  cots,  with  coarse-covered 
pillows  1  And  some  little  boys  said  they  wondered  if  their 
papas  and  mammas  would  not  give  them  some  bright  and 
shining  ornaments  to  glitter  when  they  passed  them  with  a 
candle.  All  the  boys  from  the  country  thought  that  New 
York  mothers  must  be  rich  and  happy  who  could  send  their 
children  such  rich  bedsteads. 

One  morning,  immediately  after  prayers,  it  was  whispered 
round  among  the  boys  that  the  little  fellows  from  New  York 
were  weeping  immoderately.  "What  for?"  "The  brass 
screw-covers  are  broken  off,"  said  one.  "Yes,"  said  another, 
"I  thought  they  would  not  stand  the  racket  made  about  them 
long!"  "Who  has  done  this  envious  deed'.*"  said  another. 
"It  is  a  mean  trick,"  said  a  fourth ;  "  the  preceptor  will  surely 
find  him  out."  By  this  time  the  fact  was  fully  known,  and  the 
writer  saw  with  his  own  eyes,  that  the  embossed  brass  covers 
to  the  bedstead  screws  were  indeed  broken  off  and  purloined. 
That  it  had  been  done  by  a  silly  child,  was  evident  from  the 
fact  of  their  having  been  broken,  not  released  by  unscrew- 
ing from  the  bedpost. 

And  who  the  child  could  be,  was  now  the  painful  question. 
That  he  belonged  to  the  family  there  could  be  no  doubt,  for 
no  one  from  any  other  house  had  entered  the  academy  since 
the  bedstead  had  been  brought  in.  How  could  the  rogue  be 
discovered?  The  boy  that  did  it  would  deny  the  deed;  it 
was,  therefore,  of  no  use  to  make  inquiries  —  it  would  but 
give  occasion  to  add  crime  to  crime  by  tempting  them  to  lie. 
Nothing,  therefore,  was  said.  All  looked  on  the  teacher  with 
eager  eyes,  for  all  expected  some  positive  and  decisive  step 
would  be  taken  to  discover  so  great  a  sinner  as  he  must  be 
who  would  perpetrate  so  mean  an  act  as  this. 

The  writer  stepped  to  his  study,  and  having  prepared  them, 
returned  with  a  handful  of  splints  of  pine,  about  the  size  of 
matches,  but  all  of  the  same  length,  being  split  from  one  and 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  53 

the  same  block  or  piece  of  board,  two  and  a  half  inches  in 
length.  These  he  held  in  his  hand  concealed  from  every  one. 
He  then  ordered  the  parlor  to  be  darkened  by  closing  the 
shutters.  "Are  all  the  little  boys  here?"  said  he.  After  a 
little  space  of  time  it  was  answered,  "Yes,  sir."  "Shall  I 
call  Bill?"  said  one  next  the  door.  "Yes,"  said  the  writer — 
"yes,  come,  Bill,  come  all  the  little  boys." 

Now  this  boy,  Bill,  was  not  one  of  the  scholars,  but  a  yellow 
servant  that  waited  on  the  tables,  and  about  the  oldest  of  the 
whole  number  present.  Bill  came  slowly  in.  "Shut  the 
door  and  lock  it,  that  none  may  escape.  Now,  my  dear 
boys,"  said  the  writer,  "  remember  what  is  said  in  the  blessed 
book,  'The  wicked  flee  when  no  man  pursueth,  but  the 
righteous  are  bold  as  a  lion.'  Don't  fear,  you  that  are  inno- 
cent ;  the  boy  that  broke  off  the  brass,  he  alone  should  trem- 
ble. Here,  form  yourselves  all  in  one  round  ring ;  let  none  fly 
from  the  ranks.  You  that  are  next  me  give  me  your  hands." 
It  was  done.  "  There,  hold  fast  all  I  give  you!  fast  in  your 
hand,  and  your  hand  hold  fast  in  your  bosom,  till  I  bid  you 
return  me  this."  While  this  was  saying,  the  writer  put  into 
each  boy's  hand  one  of  the  cuts  or  splints  just  mentioned,  all 
being  of  equal  length. 

Each  boy  received  his  splint,  and  put  it,  with  the  hand  that 
held  it,  into  his  bosom,  and  as  he  did  so,  passed  by  the  teacher ; 
and  then  another  came,  and  so  they  all  did,  until  each  had 
received  his  cut  or  splint  into  his  hand.  Thus  all  went  round 
and  returned  into  the  place  which  they  at  first  occupied. 
Nothing  was  heard  during  this  scene,  but  the  one  sentence, 
"Hold  fast  all  I  give  you.'1 

When  the  ceremony  was  over  and  all  were  waiting  the 
issue,  they  all  heard  distinctly  pronounced,  "He  that  hath  the 
longest  splint  is  the  guilty  boy  V  They  all  then  returned 
their  splints  as  they  had  received  them,  in  perfect  order.  The 
cuts  all  remained  as  they  were  but  the  yellnw  boy,  Bill's;  his 
was  broken  short  off,  leaving  a  little  more  than  half  in  his 
hand;  the  rest  lie  had  thrown  away !  The  writer  seized  hold 
of  him,  and,  ordering  his  trunk  to  be  searched,  found  the  arti- 
cles in  it ! 

5* 


54  bishop   chase's  reminiscences. 

CHAPTER    VII. 

REMOVES  TO  LOUISIANA  —  ORIGINAL  DOCUMENTS  OF  THE  FIRST  PLANT- 
ING OF  THE  CHURCH  THERE. 

The  salary  afforded  by  the  parish  in  Poughkeepsie  being 
inadequate  to  the  writer's  comfortable  support,  he  had 
recourse  to  the  common  expedient  of  school-keeping.  At  first 
this  was  in  a  private  way ;  but  being  earnestly  solicited,  he  at 
length  took  charge  of  the  public  academy  in  that  place.  His 
pupils  were  numerous,  and  from  the  most  respectable  families 
in  New  York  and  other  places.  The  duties  of  so  large  a 
school  were  of  themselves  most  arduous,  and,  blended  as  they 
were  with  those  of  two  parishes,  Fishkill  and  Poughkeepsie, 
they  became  insupportable.  Nothing  but  the  strongest  consti- 
tution and  the  hope  of  better  times,  under  the  sustaining  hand 
of  a  merciful  Providence,  kept  him  from  sinking.  To  add  to 
the  load  that  bore  heavy  on  him,  it  pleased  God  to  threaten 
his  beloved  wife  with  consumptive  symptoms,  so  that  if  she 
recovered  it  must  be  under  the  influence  of  a  warmer  climate. 

Accordingly,  in  the  year  1805,  the  Bishop  of  New  York, 
having  been  apprised  of  his  wishes,  and  having  received 
from  New  Orleans  the  invitation  of  the  Protestants  in  that 
place  to  send  them  a  clergyman  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
appointed  the  writer  to  go  thither,  and  see  what  could  be 
effected  in  the  permanent  organization  of  the  Church  in  that 
city,  then,  with  the  whole  territory,  just  ceded  to  the  United 
States. 

So  undefined,  however,  were  the  means  of  support  offered, 
and  so  expensive  was  said  to  be  the  place  for  the  maintenance 
of  a  family,  that  it  seemed  hazardous  to  move  even  his  wife 
with  him  at  once  thither.  He  saw  no  way  but  to  go  first 
himself  and  see  what  could  be  done,  and  return  for  his  family 
as  soon  as  possible.  Accordingly,  in  the  month  of  October,  in 
the  year  of  1805,  he  set  sail  in  the  brig  Thetis,  Capt.  Richard 
Bowen.  It  was  the  first  time  he  had  been  on  the  waves  of 
this  mighty  element,  and  the  sea-sickness,  the  running  of  the 
vessel  on  the  hard  sands  which  surround  the  Riding  Rocks, 
the  being  driven  by  contrary  currents  across  the  Gulf  Stream 


BISHOP     CHASE'S     REMINISCENCES.  55 

to  the  Florida  shore,  and  thence  pursuing  the  tedious  course 
around  the  Tortugas,  rendered  the  voyage  most  unpleasant. 
Nothing  but  the  kind  treatment  of  the  captain,  whose 
civility,  even  temper,  and  uncommon  good  sense,  were 
acknowledged  by  all  the  passengers,  could  reconcile  him  to 
the  evils  of  a  first  voyage  at  sea. 

Entering  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  the  vessel  passed  up 
to  the  English  Turn  without  difficulty.  Here,  of  course, 
she  was  obliged  to  stop  for  a  change  of  wind ;  and  to  avoid 
much   delay,    the   writer,    with   his   much   esteemed    friend 

W D ,  walked  up,  about  ten  miles,  to  the  plantation 

of  the  Hon.  B P ,  then  Judge  of  the  newly  ceded  city 

of  New  Orleans.  Never  will  the  writer  forget  the  civilities 
which  he  received  from  this  most  amiable  family.  The  house 
was  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  nearly  four  miles  below 
the  town,  and  seen  distinctly  from  it.  The  gardens  Avere  well 
laid  out,  and  divided  with  orange-trees,  then  bending  with 
their  golden  fruit.  The  whole  plantation  seemed  well  con- 
ducted, and  the  owner,  though  just  recovering  from  an  attack 
of  the  fever,  appeared  happy.  His  kindness  to  the  writer  was 
in  accordance  with  his  general  character ;  and  soon  were  the 
courses  marked  out,  and  the  ways  and  means  provided,  for  the 
introduction  of  the  first  Protestant  minister  that  had  ever 
preached  in  Louisiana. 

After  a  due  notice  in  the  American  paper,  then  printed  by  a 
Mr.  Bradford,  the  first  divine  services  were  held  in  the  Prin- 
cipal Those  who  attended  were  numerous  and  of  the  most 
respectable  Americans,  and  very  decorous  in  their  deportment. 
An  act  had  previously  been  passed  by  the  territorial  legisla- 
ture for  the  formation  of  a  religious  society  of  Protestants  ;  but 
on  examination,  it  was  found  inconsistent  with  the  usages  of 
the  episcopal  Church.  At  the  request  of  the  writer  it  was 
altered,  and  under  its  amended  form,  he  assisted  in  organizing 
a  corporate  body  by  the  style  and  title  of  ';  the  Rector,  War- 
dens, and  Vestry  of  Clmsi  Church,  New  Orleans,  in  com- 
munion with  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States  <»f  America."  Till  a  Bishop  should  he  consecrated  for 
the  diocese,  the  minister  officiating  and  enjoying  the  privileges 
of  tins  act  was  made  Bubject  to  the  Bishop  of  New  York,  all 


56  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

of  which  will  more  fully  appear  by  perusing  the  following 
memorandum  of  events  and  record  of  original  letters  taken  by 
the  writer  at  the  time,  now  more  than  thirty-five  years  ago. 

No  apology  is  needed  for  inserting  it  entire.  Being  the  first 
attempt  to  introduce  the  Protestant  and  primitive  faith  in  the 
state  of  Louisiana,  it  deserves  a  place  in  history,  and  the  more 
minute  in  its  statements  the  better. 

It  was  preserved  among  the  choice  papers  of  the  writer, 
and,  in  a  small  box,  saved  from  conflagration  by  the  hand  of 
his  wife,  as  will  be  hereafter  related. 

The  Right  Rev.  Benjamin  Moore,  Bishop  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  the  state  of  New  York,  some  time  during 
the  month  of  September,  1805,  received  the  following  letter 
from  New  Orleans. 

"New  Orleans,  August  12,  1805. 

"  Sir  :  — We  have  been  instructed  by  the  Protestant  citizens 
of  this  place,  to  lay  before  you  the  substance  of  the  resolutions 
entered  into  at  the  several  meetings  for  the  purpose  of  encour- 
aging the  establishment  of  a  Church  in  this  city,  and  to 
interest  you  in  the  recommendation  of  such  person  as  you 
may  think  qualified  to  maintain  the  respectability  of  the 
Church,  and,  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  to  conciliate  the 
regard  of  his  congregation. 

"  It  has  been  determined  that  he  shall  be  of  the  Episcopal 
denomination ;  but  it  is  to  be  recollected  that  his  supporters 
are  not  only  of  his  own  persuasion,  but  also  Presbyterians, 
Catholics,  &c. 

"  From  the  resolution  of  the  last  meeting,  we  are  authorized 
to  say,  that  our  subscriptions  for  the  annual  expenses  of  the 
Church,  amount  to  upwards  of  two  thousand  seven  hundred 
dollars,  with  a  probability  of  a  considerable  addition ;  that  in 
consequence  of  the  liberality  we  have  experienced,  the  una- 
nimity that  seems  to  prevail  on  the  subject,  with  the  great 
desire  manifested  by  every  class  of  people  to  see  our  object 
carried  into  effect,  we  may  declare  that  a  salary  of  no  less 
than  two  thousand  dollars  will  be  given  as  a  compensation  for 
the  services  of  such  a  person,  who  may  be  chosen  to  reside 
among  us. 

"  We  presume  the  objects  we  have  in  view  would  be  suffi- 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  57 

cient  to  recommend  our  interests  to  your  attention ;  but  the 

acknowledgments  of  the  congregation  will  be  your  due,  if  you 

will  be  so  good  as  to  point  out  such  suitable  characters,  as  are 

within  your  knowledge,  to  correspond  for  this  purpose  with 

such  gentlemen  as  you  may  deem  proper. 

"  We  beg  leave  to  request  your  early  attention,  and  to  hear 

from  you  as  soon  as  convenient.     We  are,  sir,  with  much 

respect,  your  humble  servants, 

"  James  M.  Bradford, 

"James  C.  Williamson, 

"  Edward  Livingston." 

Pursuant  to  the  contents  of  this  letter,  Bishop  Moore  thought 
proper  to  recommend  to  the  notice  of  the  Protestants  in  New 
Orleans,  the  writer.  The  great  importance  of  establishing  as 
early  as  possible  the  Protestant.  Ohureh  in  the  extensive  tcr~ 
ritory  of  Louisiana,  joined  to  the  opinion  of  medical  men  that 
his  wife's  health  required  a  more  southern  climate,  were  the 
chief  reasons  of  his  ready  consent  to  relinquish  his  situation 
at  Poughkeepsie. 

He  arranged  his  affairs  as  well  as  the  suddenness  of  the  call 
would  permit,  and  after  receiving  proper  testimonials,  as  well 
from  his  brethren  the  presbyters  as  from  his  Bishop,  he  set 
sail,  on  the  20th  of  October,  1805,  and  arrived  in  New  Orleans 
city  on  the  13th  of  November. 

His  reception  was  marked,  on  the  part  of  those  who  had 
been  the  instruments  of  his  coming,  by  politeness  and  the 
manifestation  of  a  great  desire  to  render  his  errand  successful 
and  himself  happy. 

Although  the  Protestants  had  obtained  of  the  territorial  leg- 
islature an  act  of  incorporation,  yet  they  did  not  proceed  to 
organize  their  vestry  until  the  16th  of  this  month  —  Novem- 
ber, 1805.  On  this  day  they  met,  and,  agreeably  to  charter, 
elected  the  following  persons,  viz. :  J.  B.  Provost,  D.  A.  Hall, 
Benjamin  Morgan,  Joseph  Saul,  Wm.  Kenner,  Joseph  Mr.Nicl, 
George  T.  Ross,  Charles  Norwood,  Andrew  Burk,  R.  D. 
Shepherd,  Richard  Relf,  Edward  Livingston,  J.  McDonough, 
John  P.  Sanderson,  and  A.  R.  Ellery;  of  whom  Joseph  Saul 
and  Andrew  Burk  were  afterwards  fleeted  wardens  by  the 
members  of  the  corporation. 


58  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

On  Sunday,  the  17th  of  November,  at  eleven  in  the  morn- 
ing, divine  service  was  performed,  and  a  sermon  preached  by 
Mr.  Chase,  in  the  Principal.  The  Protestants  generally 
attended.  On  his  return  to  his  lodgings,  Mr.  C.  found  the  fol- 
lowing note  on  his  table :  — 

"  Protestant  Meetings  November  16,  1805. 
"Resolved  unanimously,  That  Mr.  Chase  receive  the  thanks 
of  this  meeting  for  the  readiness  and  zeal  he  has  displayed,  in 
the  early  tender  of  his  services  as  a  minister  to  the  New 
Orleans  Protestant  Church. 

"Resolved  unanimously,  That  J.  B.  Provost  communicate 
this  resolution  to  Mr.  Chase. 

"  Extract  from  the  minutes. 

"Jas.  Bradford,  Clerk."" 

On  Wednesday,  the  20th  of  November,  the  vestry  of  the 
Protestant  Church  in  New  Orleans  met  for  the  first  time  as 
a  corporate  body,  and  the  next  day  Mr.  Chase  received  from 
them  the  following  letter :  — 

"New  Orleans,  November  20,  1805. 

"  To  the  Rev.  Philander  Chase, 

"Sir:  —  We  have  the  honor  of  communicating  to  you  a 
vote  of  the  vestry  and  wardens  of  the  New  Orleans  Protestant 
Church,  by  which  a  salary  is  offered  to  you  at  the  rate  of  two 
thousand  dollars  yearly,  for  your  services  as  a  minister  of  the 
gospel  for  this  Church,  to  be  reckoned  from  the  time  of  your 
departure  from  New  York  until  the  first  day  of  May  next. 

"At  the  same  time,  allow  us  to  return  you  our  thanks  for 
the  readiness  you  have  displayed  in  the  early  offer  of  your 
services  for  the  furtherance  of  the  views  of  our  establishment ; 
and  we  persuade  ourselves  that  nothing  will  be  wanting  to 
render  your  ministry  agreeable  to  yourself  and  useful  to  the 
Church. 

"  In  behalf  of  the  vestry  and  wardens, 

"Benjamin  Morgan,  Chairman. 

"A.  R.  Ellery,  Secretary." 

To  this  Mr.  Chase  returned  the  following  answer :  — 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  59 

"  New  Orleans,  November  22,  1805. 
"  To  the  wardens  and  vestrymen  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 

Church  in  New  Orleans. 

"Gentlemen:  —  I  received  your  favor  of  the  20th  instant, 
containing  the  substance  of  a  resolution  of  your  board,  by 
which  a  salary  is  offered  to  me  at  the  rate  of  two  thousand 
dollars  yearly,  for  my  services  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel  for 
this  Church,  to  be  reckoned  from  the  time  of  my  departure 
from  New  York  until  the  first  day  of  May  next. 

"  I  tender  you  my  sincere  thanks  for  the  honor  you  have 
done  me  in  this  offer,  and  in  the  subsequent  expressions  of 
friendship  and  kindness. 

"  If  the  vestry  meant,  by  limiting  the  time  in  which  the  sal- 
ary is  to  be  paid  to  the  first  day  of  May  next,  to  signify  that 
the  intermediate  space  Ls  to  be  considered  as  a  time  of  trial 
only,  and  it  then  to  be  a  matter  of  uncertainty  whether  any- 
thing further  will  be  done,  I  beg  leave  to  observe,  that  my 
present  affairs  will  not  admit  of  my  being  in  that  situation  for 
so  long  a  period.  My  excursion  to  this  place  is  considered  by 
the  congregation  and  institution  of  which  I  have  the  honor  to 
be  rector  and  principal,  as  a  visit  in  obedience  to  the  orders  of 
my  Bishop,  and  in  the  light  of  a  temporary  mission.  In  this 
way  I  left  them,  till  they  should  see  or  hear  from  me  again, 
which  should  be  by  the  return  of  the  vessel  on  board  of  which 
I  embarked.  If  I  were  to  give  up  that,  my  establishment,  for 
an  uncertainty,  which  would  be  in  effect  the  case  by  too  long 
delay,  I  should  act  contrary  to  the  intention  of  the  worthy 
gentleman  by  whose  directions  I  came  among  you,  and  do, 
perhaps,  a  lasting  injury  to  my  dear  family. 

"  To  put  this  matter  beyond  the  power  of  misapprehension, 
and  to  act  with  that  candor  which  becomes  our  profession,  I 
will  take  the  liberty  to  state  the  conditions  on  which  the  busi- 
ness in  question  can  be  conducted  and  accomplished. 

"If  it  please  God,  I  will  come  and  reside  with  you  as  the 
permanent  rector  of  your  Church,  and  ai  a  minister  of  the 
gospel,  and  fulfil,  to  the  utmost  of  my  power,  the  duties  of 
that  office,  on  the  following  terms,  viz. :  — 

Mlst  That  an  annual  salary  of  (2,000^  and  a  convenient 
and  com  fort  able  house,   be  granted  me;  the  salary  to  com- 


60  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

mence  from  the  time  I  left  New  York  to  come  hither,  and  to 
include  the  time  I  shall  necessarily  be  absent  and  on  expense, 
in  bringing  my  family  and  in  bidding  adieu  to  my  parents  and 
friends. 

"2d.  That  my  induction  take  place  agreeably  to  the  forms 
already  established  in  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
United  States  of  America.  The  vestry  have  from  this  time  to 
the  sailing  of  the  brig  Thetis  for  New  York,  to  make  up  their 
judgment. 

"  With  every  sentiment  of  esteem  and  friendship,  I  am,  gen- 
tlemen, your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

"Philander  Chase." 

On  the  morning  of  the  11th  of  December,  Messrs.  Burk, 
Saul,  and  Ellery,  called  on  Mr.  Chase,  with  the  following 
letter  from  the  vestry : — 

"  New  Orleans,  December  11,  1805. 

"  Rev.  Sir  :— The  vestrymen  and  wardens  of  Christ  Church 
have  taken  into  due  consideration  your  letter  of  the  22d  of 
November  last,  in  which  were  contained  the  terms  upon  which 
you  were  willing  to  be  established  as  the  minister  of  the  gos- 
pel for  this  Church.  Some  delay  has  unavoidably  intervened 
and  retarded  their  answer.  It  was  necessary  to  ascertain 
the  extent  of  the  funds  upon  which  they  could  rely,  before 
they  could,  with  propriety,  either  accept  any  proposals,  or 
make  any  overtures,  for  a  permanent  arrangement.  I  now, 
agreeably  to  directions,  communicate  the  result  of  their  delib- 
erations, as  contained  in  the  following  resolutions :  — 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Rev.  Philander  Chase  be  offered  an 
annual  salary  of  two  thousand  dollars,  to  be  paid  quarter- 
yearly,  and  to  commence  from  the  time  of  his  departure  from 
New  York  to  come  here,  and  also  to  include  the  period  of  his 
absence  necessary  in  visiting  his  friends,  and  bringing  his 
family  to  this  country. 

"Resolved,  That  he  be  also  offered  the  use  of  a  house  in 
this  city,  or  three  hundred  dollars  yearly  in  lieu  thereof,  and 
in  addition  to  the  above  sum  and  salary  of  two  thousand  dol- 
lars, at  the  discretion  of  the  vestry  and  wardens  of  the 
Church. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  61 

"  Resolved,  That  his  induction  take  place  agreeably  to  the 
forms  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  so  far  as  they  may 
be  consistent  with  the  act  of  incorporation  of  this  Church. 

"  With  every  sentiment  of  friendship  and  esteem,  I  am  your 
most  obedient  servant, 

"  A.  R.  Ellery,  Sec.  of  the  vestry. 

"  Rev.  Philander  Chase." 

To  this  letter  the  following  note  was  returned  in  answer:  — 

"New  Orleans,  December  12,  1805. 
"  To  the  wardens  and  vestrymen  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 

Church  in  New  Orleans. 
"  Mr.  Chase  presents  his  respectful  compliments  to  the  war- 
dens and  vestrymen  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in 
New  Orleans — acknowledges  the  receipt  of  their  letter  of  the 
11th  instant — accepts  the  call  therein  contained,  and  will 
interchange  articles  of  agreement  as  may  suit  the  convenience 
of  the  vestry." 

Soon  after  this  note  was  received,  a  committee,  appointed 
by  the  vestry,  called  on  the  Rev.  Mr.  Chase :  and  after  mutual 
interchange  of  friendly  sentiments,  found  that  the  act  of  incor- 
poration was  inadequate  —  that  an  alteration  thereof  was 
necessary,  and  that  the  signing  of  articles  of  agreement  with 
the  clergyman  had  better  be  postponed  until  such  alteration 
could  be  effected.  The  following  letter  was  therefore  ad- 
dressed by  Mr.  Chase,  in  form,  to  the  vestry:  — 

"  To  the  wardens  and  vestrymen  of  Christ  Church,  New 

Orleans. 

"  Gentlemen  :  —  Since  my  last  communication  to  the  vestry, 
several  things  have  occurred  to  my  mind,  which,  now  their 
committee  have  done  me  the  honor  of  calling  on  me  for  the 
purpose  of  interchanging  articles  of  agreement,  I  think  proper 
to  offer  to  the  board,  by  way  of  apologizing  for  not  immedi- 
ately complying  with  their  wishes : 

"  There  are  some  particulars  in  the  act  under  which  the 
vestry  are  a  body  corporate,  which  are  not  altogether  so 
agreeable  to  the  ancient  usages  of  the  Church  as  I  could  wish 
all  tilings  to  be  in  a  congregation  with  whom  I  am  to  make  an 
agreement  to  spend,  probably,  the  remainder  of  my  days,  and 

6 


62  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

whose  proceedings,  being  the  first  in  the  territory,  will  be  con- 
sidered as  models  for  all  succeeding  corporations. 

"1.  The  act  above  mentioned  is  so  worded,  and  I  under- 
stand has  been  so  interpreted  by  the  vestry,  as  to  exclude  the 
clergyman  from  being  a  chairman,  or,  indeed,  as  having  any- 
thing to  do  with  the  vestry;  and  may,  I  think,  with  equal 
propriety,  be  so  construed  as  to  render  the  name  of  rector,  not 
only  a  nominal  but  an  inconsistent  title.  This,  in  my  opin- 
ion, is  in  no  respect  agreeable  to  ancient  usage. 

"2.  The  time  of  election  of  Church  officers  is,  by  that 
instrument,  fixed  on  the  first  of  May ;  whereas  it  has  ever 
been  the  Monday  or  Tuesday  in  Easter  week. 

"3.  The  wardens,  by  the  said  act,  are  to  be  chosen  from 
among  and  by  the  vestrymen.  The  usages  of  the  Church 
require  that  they  be  chosen  by  the  congregation  immediately 
preceding  the  choice  of  the  vestrymen. 

"4.  The  name,  style,  or  title,  is  not  such  and  so  specific 
as  to  ensure  an  orthodox  communion  with  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church. 

"  If  in  these  instances  a  favorable  alteration  can  be  obtained, 
I  believe  that  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  the  Church,  not  only 
here,  but  throughout  the  territory,  would  be  better  secured,  the 
customs  of  the  primitive  Christians  more  respectfully  observed, 
and  the  end  of  my  coming  here,  as  an  Episcopal  clergyman, 
more  fully  answered. 

"Should  the  vestry  think  proper  to  petition  for,  and  obtain 
from  the  lawful  authority,  these  alterations,  they  may  rely  on 
a  prompt  attention  to  the  exchanging  of  proper  articles  of 
agreement  from  their  sincere  friend  and  very  humble  servant, 

"  Philander  Chase." 

It  seems  that  the  object  of  this  letter  was  partially  misun- 
derstood, insomuch  as,  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  vestry,  the 
following  resolution  was  taken  in  consequence  thereof,  and 
communicated  to  Mr.  Chase,  on  Wednesday,  April  2d :  — 

"New  Orleans,  April 2,  1806. 
"To  the  Rev.  Mr.  Chase, 

"  Sir  : — I  beg  leave  to  communicate  to  you  the  proceedings 

of  the  wardens  and  vestry,  at  a  meeting  held  on  the  22d 

March. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  63 

"A  letter  being  read  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Chase — 'The  ves- 
try have  no  objections,  and  will  endeavor  to  gratify  him  in 
what  he  asks,  provided  his  continuance  as  minister  still  de- 
pends on  the  congregation.' 

"  With  much  respect,  I  am,  dear  Sir,  yours, 

"  Jas.  C.  Williamson,  Secretary." 

This  produced  from  Mr.  Chase  the  following  reply :  — 

"New  Orleans,  April  2,  1806. 

"  To  the  wardens  and  vestrymen  of  Christ  Church,  New 

Orleans. 

"  Gentlemen  : — A  transcript  of  a  resolution  of  your  board, 
of  the  23d  ultimo,  was  this  day  communicated  to  me,  by  your 
secretary,  Mr.  Williamson.  In  answer  to  which  I  beg  leave 
to  observe,  that  if  I  adhere  to  determinations  which  I  have 
never  ceased  to  entertain,  I  shall  not  become  the  rector  of  the 
Church  in  this  city,  but  with  all  such  privileges  as  are  enjoyed 
by  all  other  rectors  in  communion  with  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal Church  in  the  United  States  of  America. 

u  The  paper*  which  I  have  already  transmitted  to  the  sec- 
retary, Mr.  Williamson,  contains  the  proposed  alterations  in 
your  act  of  incorporation,  by  which  an  establishment  of  a  rec- 
tor on  these  principles  can  be  accomplished. 

"  If  a  desire  still  remains  of  constituting  me  rector  of  Christ 
Church  in  the  city  of  New  Orleans,  the  vestry  will  petition 
and  obtain  such  alterations ;  if  not,  I  must,  however  reluc- 
tantly, depart,  I  hope  in  peace,  with  such  compensation  for  the 
sacrifices  I  have  made  as  the  vestry  shall  think  proper. 
"1  am,  gentlemen,  your  friend  and  humble  servant, 

"Philander  Chase." 

The  reply  of  the  vestry  was  as  follows :  — 

"  To  the  Rev.  Philander  Chase:  — 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  wardens  and  vestrymen  of  Christ 
( 'hnrch,  held  the  2d  day  of  April,  1806  — 

"Present,  Joseph  Saul  in  the  chair:  Andrew  Burk,  war- 
den; George  T.  Ross,  Richard  Relf,  Charles  Norwood,  Joseph 
McNiel,  John  Sanderson,  William  Konner,  vestrymen;  and 
James  Williamson,  secretary  — 

♦This   papa   Contained   thfl   alteration!  of  the  charter   as   they   now  stnnd  in  the 

amended  act,  patted  In  the  winter  of  ist)6-7,  by  the  Orleani  legislature. 


64  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

"  The  proceedings  of  the  former  meeting  being  read,  a  letter 
was  laid  before  the  vestry  from  the  Rev.  Philander  Chase, 
accompanied  with  the  constitution  and  form  of  induction  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  the  United  States ;  and 
having  been  taken  into  consideration,  the  propositions  of  Mr. 
Chase  were  considered  to  be  conformable  to  the  order  and 
regulations  of  the  said  Church  by  fair  construction.  There- 
fore — 

"  Resolved,  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  present  a 
petition  to  the  legislature  of  the  territory,  so  to  amend  and 
alter  the  act  incorporating  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of 
this  city  as  to  admit  of  their  receiving  the  rector  as  a  member 
of  the  corporation,  and  make  such  other  alterations  therein  as 
may  be  conformable  to  the  constitution  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church  of  the  United  States. 

"  Resolved,  That  Edward  Livingston,  George  T.  Ross,  and 
Richard  Relf  be  a  committee  to  draft  a  petition  to  the  legisla- 
ture, agreeably  to  the  foregoing,  and  report. 

" Resolved,  That  agreeably  to  the  proposition  of  Mr.  Chase, 
the  rector  shall  be  subject  to  the  ecclesiastical  government  and 
direction  of  the  Bishop  and  convention  of  the  state  of  New 
York,  in  all  things,  as  if  he  were  a  presbyter  belonging  to  the 
said  diocese,  until  there  shall  be  a  diocese  formed  in  this  ter- 
ritory, and  a  Bishop  consecrated  according  to  the  canons  of 
the  Episcopal  Church,  to  take  charge  of  the  same. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  foregoing  be  communicated  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Chase.  A  copy  from  the  record. 

"Jas.  Williamson,  Secretary." 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

RETURNS  FOR  HIS  FAMILY ISLAND  OF  ABACO EXCESSIVE  TENDER- 
NESS  SHIPWRECK ENGLISH  PATRIOTISM THE  WRITER  COM- 
MENCES   A    SCHOOL NEGRO    JACK. 

After  officiating  in  New  Orleans  for  about  six  months,  and 
having  received  the  assurance  of  a  competent  support,  the 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  65 

writer  returned  to  Poughkeepsie,  New  York,  for  his  family. 
His  wife,  by  much  care  and  the  Divine  blessing,  had  suffered 
but  little  through  the  inclemency  of  the  climate,  and  was  able 
to  make  a  journey  to  Vermont  and  New  Hampshire,  to  bid 
adieu  to  her  relatives  and  friends.  Yet  such  were  her  impres- 
sions of  the  shortness  of  time  she  had  to  live,  that  she  con- 
sented to  leave  both  her  sons  at  school  in  Vermont,  under  the 
care  of  their  uncle.  The  elder  had  been  with  him  already  for 
several  years;  but  in  consenting  to  part  with  the  younger, 
(whom,  in  packing  up  his  clothes  in  Poughkeepsie,  she 
expected  to  take  with  her  to  the  southward,)  the  pang  was 
great.  This  whole  plan,  with  the  scene  now  alluded  to.  was 
exceedingly  affecting  to  the  writer.  It  seemed,  however,  for 
the  best,  that  the  health  of  the  children  should  not  be  endan- 
gered by  the  means  taken  to  prolong  the  life  of  the  parent. 
The  boys,  therefore,  were  commended  to  God,  and  the  care  of 
the  best  of  men,  in  the  person  of  a  beloved  uncle,  for  their 
education,  and  the  father  and  mother  tore  themselves  from 
their  warm  and  tearful  embraces. 

It  was  on  the  first  day  of  September,  1806,  the  warmest  day 
ever  noticed,  when  the  writer,  with  his  beloved  wife,  wound 
his  way  under  the  hills  by  the  side  of  that  beautiful  stream, 
White  river,  on  his  way  through  Hanover,  the  site  of  Dart- 
mouth college,  and  thence,  through  the  evergreen  woods  and 
rocks,  to  Hopkinton,  New  Hampshire.     Here  he  baptized  his 

nephews,  the  sons  of  B C ,  and  thence  proceeded  to 

Boston.  At  a  sweet  little  village,  a  short  day's  ride  before  he 
came  to  Haverhill,  on  Merrimack  river,  he  stopped  for  the 
night;  and  here  it  was  that  his  wife  was  seized  with  one  of 
those  seemingly  fatal  symptoms  of  her  complaint,  a  copious 
bleeding  from  the  lungs.  A  Doctor  Kitteredge  was  called, 
and  by  his  skill  gave  instantaneous  relief.  If  this  excellent 
gentleman  be  yet  alive,  let  him  be  hereby  assured  that  his 
kindness  has  never  been  forgotten.  W  hat  a  blessed  profession 
that  must  be  which  imitates  the  Saviour  of  a  sick  and  a  dying 
world,  in  doing  good  and  healing  tin'  wounds  of  our  afflicted 
nature ! 

The  wnirr's  stay  at  IJoston  was  hut  short;  he  was,  how- 
ever, preseni  at  tin-  meeting  of  the  Johnsonian  club,  where  the 

(>* 


66  bishop   chase's  reminiscences. 

learned  and  men  of  genius  assembled,  as  did  Goldsmith  and 
Sir  Joshua  Reynolds,  to  hear  the  wise  sayings  of  the  great 
moralist  and  master  of  our  language.  They  met  then  at  the 
house  of  Judge  Dawes;  and  there  he  saw  the  Elliots,  the 
Dexters,  and  the  Warrens  of  the  day,  most  amiable  in  their 
manners  and  learned  in  their  converse.  These  ornaments  of 
their  country  are  now  nearly  all  passed  off  the  stage  of  life. 
Whether  their  places  be  supplied  by  men  of  equal  moral  worth, 
others  must  judge. 

The  first  autumnal  month  had  passed  before  the  writer, 
with  his  invalid  companion,  could  reach  New  York,  whither 
he  had  ordered  all  his  goods,  and  where  he  expected  to  embark 
for  New  Orleans.  The  brig  Friendship,  whose  captain,  Don, 
had  shown  him  great  civilities  in  returning  from  New  Orleans, 
had  been  selected  to  convey  his  family  thither;  but  on  his 
arrival  at  that  port,  she  was  found  to  have  cleared,  and  all 
ready  for  sea,  and  none  of  the  goods  could  go  on  board ;  they 
were,  consequently,  left  to  come  out  by  the  next  vessel  up  for 
that  place,  the  brig  Polly  Eliza.  This  circumstance  is  men- 
tioned here  for  the  reason  of  the  loss  of  that  vessel  and  all  its 
cargo,  as  will  be  related  hereafter.  Had  the  writer  missed 
the  opportunity  of  carrying  his  invalid  wife  in  his  arms  on 
board  the  brig  Friendship,  to  all  human  view,  she  would  have 
perished.     But  more  of  this  in  its  place. 

When  the  Friendship  set  sail,  the  wind  was  favorable,  but 
much  stronger  than  was  desirable  by  young  sailors.  She  was, 
therefore,  soon  out  at  sea.  The  waves  ran  high,  and  the  ves- 
sel, being  but  small,  was  quickly  and  violently  agitated. 
The  wind  increasing,  the  writer  was  prostrated  with  sea-sick- 
ness, and  remained  during  the  storm  of  nearly  two  days  insen- 
sible of  everything.  But  how  fared  his  invalid  wife  during 
this  contention  of  the  mighty  elements  ?  Up  and  doing  well 
on  ham,  and  mustard,  and  crackers !  The  bracing  benefit  of 
the  moist  sea  air,  and  the  deterring  of  the  sympathies  of 
nature  from  the  lungs  to  the  stomach  by  the  motion  of  the 
vessel,  are  very  apparent  in  certain  stages  of  pulmonary  com- 
plaints. It  was  certainly  so  here.  She  who  lately  was  so 
languishing  under  the  effect  of  that  wasting  disease,  was  now 
on  a  sudden  in  fine  spirits,  able  to  comfort  those  who  had  just 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  67 

been  ministering  to  her,  cheering  all  around  her  by  her  smiles, 
and  ready  and  alive  to  admire  the  wonders  of  the  deep. 
When  the  weather  grew  milder  and  the  vessel  approached  a 
warmer  climate,  how  sweet  were  the  moments  contrasted 
with  the  past !  And  is  not  this  an  emblem  of  the  joys  in 
Paradise  ?  There  all  will  be  serene  and  mild  ;  pain  will  cease 
and  sickness  be  no  more.  A  retrospect  of  past  troubles  will 
enhance  the  enjoyment  of  present  bliss. 

The  "  Hole  in  the  Wall,"  a  great  natural  curiosity  at  the 
south-east  end  of  the  island  of  Abaco,  attracts  the  attention  of 
all  young  travellers  on  the  ocean.  It  seems  like  a  grand  por- 
tail  in  the  wall  of  a  mighty  castle,  through  which  vessels, 
instead  of  chariots,  may  pass  under  the  vast  incumbent  rocks. 
This,  however,  is  never  attempted ;  for  the  ships  may  sail 
round  the  head  of  the  mountain,  and  so  behold  in  a  short  time 
both  sides  of  this  wonderful  excavation.  It  was  a  pleasant 
day  when  this  was  effected;  but  the  wind  freshening  of  a 
sudden  at  the  doubling  of  the  cape,  the  lady  lost  her  bonnet, 
and  so  the  further  enjoyment  of  the  scene  was  over  till  female 
ingenuity  supplied  its  place. 

The  island  of  Abaco  is  covered  principally  with  that  sweet- 
scented  and  much  valued  plant  called  the  geranium,  in  all  its 
innumerable  varieties.  Of  this  the  writer  was  informed  by 
his  valued  friend  Mr.  Galbreath,  a  merchant  from  London, 
who  had  been  cast  away  on  its  rocky  shores.  He  said  he  had 
wandered  from  one  end  of  it  to  the  other,  and  found  no  inhab- 
itant except  one  lone  family,  living  between  two  prominent 
rocks,  sheltered  by  an  old  tattered  portion  of  a  sail,  and  sub- 
sisting on  sweet  potatoes,  and  what  the  man  could  occasionally 
bring  home  from  the  avails  of  his  occupation,  which  was  that 
of  a  wrecker.  The  whole  story  of  Mr.  G.  was  most  interest- 
ing, and  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  record  it  here  as  a  set-off  for 
the  fine-spun  but  deceptive  theories  of  St.  Pierre  and  others. 
who  have  tried  to  amuse  the  world  with  the  idea  that  human 
nature,  without  education,  is  susceptible  of  refined  enjoy- 
ments. 

Mr.  G.'s  account  was.  that  he  saw  in  the  family  above 
alluded  to,  a  young  female  grown  to  maturity,  who  had  never 
seen  any  of  her  sex  hut  Ikt  mother.     She  was  not  wanting  in 


68  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

natural  proportion  of  person  or  comeliness  of  face,  but  seemed, 
from  mere  want  of  cultivation  of  intellect,  a  fool.  She  would, 
while  sitting  in  the  dirt,  try  to  amuse  the  company  and  visit- 
ants with  the  writhings  and  distortions  of  her  body,  and  in 
catching  and  tormenting  a  cat,  and  all  this  as  regardless  of 
modesty  as  the  brute  creation.  "Never,"  said  he,  "  shall  I 
cease  to  shudder  when  calling  to  mind  this  disgusting  specta- 
cle, nor  to  be  grateful  for  the  blessings  of  Christian  civilization, 
which  has  made  the  difference  between  this  poor,  degraded 
creature  and  the  polished  and  pious  ladies  of  Europe." 

Nothing  of  consequence  is  remembered  to  have  occurred 
in  performing  the  remainder  of  the  voyage  to  New  Orleans, 
except  the  merciful  continuation  of  the  convalescence  of  the 
invalid.  By  the  time  we  arrived  in  that  city  she  seemed 
quite  recovered,  and  the  writer  commenced  his  sacred  duties 
under  favorable  impressions  and  with  nattering  prospects. 
The  United  States  court  room  in  Royal  street  was  obtained 
and  fitted  up  for  a  Church,  and  regular  and  well-attended 
services  were  held  there  every  Sunday.  A  communion  was 
instituted,  and  several  devout  persons  of  both  sexes  attended. 
All  this  took  place  while  the  writer  was  in  lodgings  at  the 
house  of  a  friend,  every  day  in  expectation  of  the  arrival  of 
the  vessel  bringing  his  furniture,  library,  and  other  substance. 


EXCESSIVE   TENDERNESS. 

During  this  period  of  delay,  which  was  much  longer  than 
was  expected,  there  occurred  one  of  the  most  distressing 
scenes  the  writer  ever  witnessed,  and  which  he  would  fain 
cover  with  the  veil  of  oblivion,  did  he  not  deem  it  his  duty  to 
record  it,  as  he  did  the  story  of  the  Highland  Scotchman,  to 
enforce  the  warning  advice  to  all  who  find  in  themselves  a 
tendency  to  excess  of  passion,  even  in  the  exercise  of  the 
more  amiable  affections,  to  beware  how  they  give  way  to 
their  unbridled  indulgence,  and  constantly  and  habitually 
implore,  through  the  intercession  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  grace 
of  God,  without  which  poor  human  nature  has  no  strength. 

The  host  and  hostess  of  the  writer  were  esteemed  by  all 
who  knew  them  as  among  the  best  of  people; — the  former  for 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  69 

his  benevolence,  integrity,  and  uncommon  sensibility;  the 
latter  for  her  purity,  good  sense,  and  Christian  loveliness  in 
all  the  relations  of  life.  They  were  the  parents  of  two  daugh- 
ters, the  younger  an  infant  of  exquisite  sweetness  and  beauty. 
On  this  child  the  father  lavished  all  his  endearments  and 
seemed  to  give  it  all  his  heart.  As  all  participated  in  the 
enjoyment  of  the  fragrance  of  this  sweet  rose-bud,  the  father's 
extreme  fondness  was  not  noticed  as  anything  strange  or  cen- 
surable, till  the  lovely  flower  began  to  fade  and  give  evidence 
of  premature,  perhaps  hasty,  decay  and  death.  It  was  then 
that  the  writer  noticed  something  like  lightning  in  the  dark 
cloud  —  a  species  of  wildness  in  his  deep  melancholy.  This 
was  observed  also  by  the  grandsire,  who  was  an  inmate  of  the 
family,  and  who  earnestly  entreated  the  writer  to  speak  to  his 
son,  and  try  to  awaken  in  him  a  due  sense  of  the  duty  of 
submission.  He  did  so,  but  to  no  good  effect.  Selfish  sorrow 
for  disappointed  love  had  gone  too  far,  and  been  too  long 
uncontrolled  by  the  fear  of  God,  to  be  now  restrained.  The 
great  first  duty  of  submission  to  the  Almighty  Creator's  sove- 
reign will  could  not  now  begin  to  be  inculcated.  As  well 
might  the  frame  of  an  edifice  be  raised  in  a  whirlwind.  The 
storm  in  his  breast  raged  too  vehemently  to  permit  him  to 
listen  to  the  voice  of  duty.  Not  a  word  of  prayer  —  no  amen 
to  the  heart-touching  collects  of  the  Church  for  the  grace  of 
submission  to  the  will  of  Heaven.  The  crisis  was  awful. 
The  blood  rushed  from  his  heart  to  his  head,  and  (in  charity 
to  his  soul,  it  is  believed)  deprived  him  of  responsibility  by 
dethroning  his  reason.  Hardly  had  the  lovely  infant  began 
the  struggles  of  death,  ere  the  frantic  father  was  seen  to  dart 
from  the  apartment,  and  as  soon  return,  bearing  in  his  coun- 
tenance a  ghastly  look  that  can  never  be  forgotten.  As  he 
strode  across  the  floor  he  cried  in  an  unearthly  voice,  "  I  will 
follow  my  child  !  I  will  die  with  my  babe  ! ':  Too  well  did 
the  agonized  mother  comprehend  what  her  frenzied  husband 
Ii;kI  uttered.  She  also  shrieked,  and  in  shrieking  said,  "He 
has  taken  laudanum  —  the  large  vial  was  in  my  room  on  the 
mantle  —  <ro  and  see  —  see!"  It  was  indeed  so.  The  cork 
was  forced  in.  ;md  more  than  three  ounces  of  that  fatal  drug 
were  gone.      Medical   assistance,   therefore,    was  of  no  use, 


70  bishop   chase's  reminiscences. 

though  exerted  to  the  utmost.     The  father  and  his  idolized 
child  were  laid  in  one  grave. 

It  would  be  departing  from  the  object  of  this  memoir  to  go 
into  the  history  of  the  chief  sufferer  of  this  tragic  scene ;  but 
it  is  due  to  her  memory,  and  to  a  just  estimate  of  the  efficacy 
of  that  religion  of  which  she  was  a  professor,  to  say  that  she 
never  murmured.     She  wept,  as  did  her  blessed  Lord;  but, 
sustained  by  his  grace,  she  raised  continually  her  meek  eyes 
above  the  rod  which  chastened  her,  even  to  Him  who  guided 
it  and  who  inflicted  the  blow.     In  her  countenance  he  saw 
verified  the  words,  "  Whom  the  Lord  lovethhe  chasteneth.  and 
scour geth  every  son  whom  he  receivethP     She  lived  about  two 
years  after  this  melancholy  event,  when  the  writer  witnessed 
her  triumphant  death,  and  consigned  her,   "Earth  to  earth, 
ashes  to  ashes,  dust  to  dust,  looking  for  the  general  resurrec- 
tion in  the  last  day,  when  the  earth  and  the  sea  shall  give  up 
their  dead,  and  the  corruptible  bodies  of  those  who  sleep  in 
Jesus   shall  rise  and  be  made  like  unto  his  glorious  body, 
according  to  the  mighty  working  whereby  he  is  able  to  subdue 
all  things  unto  himself."     And  he  may  truly  say  of  this  true 
history  of  this  excellent  woman,  —  the  wife  of  Andrew  Burk, 
—  that  if  there  were  no  other  similar,  (and  there  are  millions,) 
this  one  example  of  the  sovereign  power  of  faith  in  sustaining 
the  soul  in  the  deepest  distress,  would  commend  the  religion 
of  Jesus,  through  whose  grace  that  faith  is  attained,  to  all 
reasonable  beings. 


shipwreck. 


But  to  return.  The  writer  was  anxiously  waiting  the  arri- 
val of  the  brig  Polly  Eliza,  on  board  of  which  his  goods  were 
to  be  shipped  soon  after  he  left  New  York.  It  had  now  been 
so  long  since  she  was  to  have  sailed,  that  strong  fears,  in  the 
absence  of  all  intelligence,  were  entertained  of  her  being  lost, 
perhaps  foundered  at  sea.  It  was,  he  thinks,  in  the  month  of 
March,  that  the  writer  was  walking  on  the  Levee,  when  a 
little  boy  threw  himself  in  his  arms.  He  was  clad  in  the 
garments  which  the  writer's  little  son  used  to  wear,  and 
which,  from  something  peculiar  in  their  shape  and  color,  were 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  71 

immediately  recognized,  and,  what  is  more,  the  boy  himself 
had  been  his  pupil  when  in  Poughkeepsie.  "  Richard  Fowler, 
is  this  you?— How  came  you  here,  and  how  came  you  in  the 
garments  of  my  son?"  Here  the  writer  recollected  that  the 
clothes  were  boxed  up  with  the  other  articles  from  Pough- 
keepsie, before  visiting  Vermont,  and  there  determining  to 
leave  the  children,  and  the  conclusion  was  irresistible  that 
little  Richard  F.  was  one  of  the  passengers  of  the  long- 
expected  vessel.  This  proved  to  be  the  fact.  The  lad  was 
so  affected  -that  he  could  hardly  begin  to  tell  the  disasters 
which  had  befallen  him,  ere  his  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fowler, 
and  six  children,  Mr.  F.'s  sister  and  two  daughters,  and  a  Mr. 
Perry,  made  their  appearance.  The  meeting  with  this  worthy 
family,  well  known  to  the  writer  while  in  Dutchess  county, 
was  a  mixture  of  joy  and  sorrow,  occasioning  the  deepest 
sympathy ;  and  as  the  whole  story,  gathered  from  Mr.  F.  and 
his  fellow-passengers  in  subsequent  moments  of  retirement,  is 
full  of  incident  and  providential  mercies,  and  somewhat  con- 
nected with  this  memoir,  it  may  not  be  irrelevant  to  recite  it 
here. 

"Your  goods,"  said  Mr.  F.,  "were  put  on  board  the  brig 
Polly  Eliza  with  mine,  and  I  felt  myself  equally  the  guardian 
of  both.  The  vessel  was  a  good  sea-boat,  and  we  passed  the 
Bahama  banks  in  safety  and  with  much  speed.  The  wind 
increasing  as  we  drew  near  Matanzas,  the  captain  expressed 
fears  that  the  brig,  having  but  a  shallow  keel,  and  being  made 
to  sail  in  shoal  water,  would  with  difficulty  "  claw  off,"'  unless 
the  gale  abated.  These  sad  forebodings  were  soon  realized. 
As  all  vessels  are  obliged,  on  leaving  the  Bahama  banks,  to 
make  directly  for  the  Cuba  shore,  in  order  to  avoid  the  force 
of  the  Gulf  stream,  which  sets  to  the  northward  at  the  rate  of 
five  and  six  knots  an  hour,  in  so  doing  we  found  we  were 
too  near  that  island  to  afford  us  room  to  keep  clear  of  the 
shoals  of  Point  Jacco.  The  danger  was  discovered,  and  found 
inevitable.  In  the  dead  of  night  the  captain  came  into  the 
cabin,  and  in  no  whispering  accents  told  us  that  he  had  put 
the  vessel  directly  before  the  wind,  with  her  head  OB  shore, 
and  expected  she  would  strike  in  a  few  minutes.  Hardly 
were  the  words  out  of  his  mouth  before  she   struck  indeed; 


72  bishop  chase's  reminiscences, 

and  such  was  the  concussion  with  the  hard  beach,  that  most 
of  the  children  were  thrown  from  their  berths.  She  rose  on 
the  wave,  struck  again,  and  the  third  time  was  fast.  Happily 
for  us,  the  heaviest  and  most  dangerous  of  the  seas  did  not 
reach  us,  being  broken  by  a  sand-bank,  the  point  of  which 
we  had  providentially  escaped  in  running  in  the  vessel.  Sea 
enough,  however,  was  left,  soon  to  break  the  brig  in  pieces, 
yet  not  so  quickly  as  to  prevent  the  escape  of  all  the  crew  and 
passengers,  who  were  lowered  into  the  boat,  which,  being  at 
the  leeward,  passed,  not  however  without  great  danger,  several 
times  to  the  shore,  till  all  were  safe. 

"  Nothing  can  exceed  the  joy  experienced  on  this  dark 
night,  when,  calling  for  my  babes,  sister  and  nieces,  I  found 
them  all  to  answer  to  their  names.  But  what  now  was  to  be 
done  for  shelter  or  even  for  clothing?  The  children  had 
nothing  about  them  but  their  night-clothes,  and  the  ladies 
were  in  little  better  plight.  O,  sir,"  continued  Mr.  F.,  "had 
it  not  been  for  the  clothing  which  you  had  put  up  in  tight  and 
light  boxes,  and  for  the  food,  the  keg  of  buckwheat  meal,  and 
another  of  corned  beef,  and  a  barrel  of  hams,  which  you  had 
laid  in  for  your  winter  stores  in  New  Orleans,  we  all  should 
have  perished.  These  boxes  and  casks  came  in,  being  driven 
on  shore  by  the  wind,  one  after  the  other,  day  after  day,  and 
thus  afforded  us  subsistence. 

"The  place  where  we  were  was  an  island  beach  of  sand, 
out  far  from  shore,  and  that  shore  so  beaten  upon  and  bold  as 
to  forbid  the  landing  of  the  boat.  With  the  spars  rescued 
from  the  wreck,  we  hoisted  a  signal  of  distress,  and,  with 
others,  put  up  a  frame,  making  a  rude  shelter  with  the  sails 
of  the  vessel.  In  this  we  made  apartments  for  the  ladies 
and  beds  for  the  children,  so  that  in  a  few  days  we  were 
comfortably  fixed.  But  it  was  a  gloomy  prospect  at  best, 
from  which  the  hand  of  God  only  could,  as  it  did,  relieve 
us. 

"  But  before  I  relate  to  you  how  we  were  most  mercifully 
visited  by  a  vessel,  which  took  us  off  and  carried  us  to 
Havana,  one  circumstance  demands  particular  notice,  as  it 
cheered  the  aching  bosom  of  an  Englishman.  When  we  left 
New  York,  all  were  foreboding  the  downfall  of  my  native 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  73 

country.*  The  whole  world  is  combined  against  her,  and 
the  Corsican  is  everywhere  successful,  and  they  say,  England 
must  fall,  England  must  fall !  But  England  is  not  down 
yet,"  said  he;  "and  I'll  tell  you  what  makes  me  think  she 
will  survive  and  rise  above  all  her  troubles.  Do  you  wish  to 
hear  what  became  of  your  pair  of  globes,  which  you  had 
boxed  up  with  such  care  ?  This  box  had,  by  some  flaw  of 
wind,  been  driven  out  at  sea,  and  it  was  some  time  before  it 
came  so  near  as  to  be  taken,  as  many  other  things  were,  by 
persons  standing  on  the  beach.  At  length  it  approached,  and 
by  little  and  little  it  came  within  our  reach.  On  breaking  the 
box  we  found  the  water  had  filled  the  open  space,  and  had 
remained  there  so  long  that  the  whole  seemed  a  mass  of  pulp. 
No  traces  of  continents,  countries,  or  islands  appeared ;  all 
was  obliterated  by  the  softening  action  of  the  water.  One 
lone  exception  —  little  Old  England ! "  —  and  here  Mr.  F.  rose 
as  if  rapt  in  ecstasy  by  the  joyous  thought:  "  Little  Old 
England  rose  as  a  bright  star  from  chaos  !  My  country  !  O 
my  country  !  God  will  preserve  thee  ! "  There  was  so  much 
patriotism  mingled  with  piety,  and  the  appearance  of  provi- 
dential help  afforded  in  deep  distress,  in  this  whole  story, 
that  the  writer  could  not  forbear  giving  it  a  place  in  this 
memoir. 

The  rest  of  the  history  of  Mr.  F.  and  family  was  but  a 
detail  of  ordinary  difficulties  in  being  taken  off  the  Point  Jacco 
and  carried  to  Havana  by  the  Cuba  wreckers,  and  in  staying 
a  long  time  in  that  city  for  a  passage  to  New  Orleans.  One 
circumstance  is  worth  relating,  as  evincing  the  fact  of  there 
being  some  sense  of  a  merciful  Providence  even  in  the  breasts 
of  Spanish  wreckers.  "These  rude  and  prowling  people," 
d  Mr.  P.,  "when  they  had  learned  thai  none  had  perished, 
though  driven  on  shore  in  the  gale,  inquired  how  it  happened' 
'The  vessel  just  doubled  the  cape  of  sand  which  warded  off 
the  main  breaker,'  replied  one  of  the  hands,  who  spoke  Span- 
ish. 'And  who  told  you  of  that  channel  V  asked  they. 
rhere  being  no  answer  given  to  so  strange  a  question,  they 


'i' 


*Tli«'  raadef  is  referred  to  the  history  of  the  war  between  Prance  and  England  in 

the  year  1806.     Bonaparte   was  then  carrying  all  before  hiiri,  and  an  invasion  was 
daily  expected. 

7 


74  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

replied  to  it  themselves  — '  It  was  Jesus  Christ  who  led  you 
through  it,  and  thus  saved  your  lives.'  " 

Mr.  Fowler  had  other  funds,  with  which  he  purchased  a 
plantation  in  West  Florida,  on  which  the  family  moved  in 
due  time  and  enjoyed  many  comforts.  But  the  writer  in  the, 
late  disaster  had  lost  his  all.  His  library,  globes  and  maps, 
his  bedding,  clothing,  furniture  and  stores — all  were  gone;  — 
his  purse  empty  and  his  salary  quite  anticipated  in  expensive 
lodgings ;  no  resources  from  abroad,  nor  in  the  land  from 
which  he  came ;  for  at  that  time  there  were  no  benevolent 
societies  nor  generous  missionary  spirit  to  lift  up  the  drooping 
hands  and  strengthen  the  feeble  knees.  Under  God  he  had  to 
depend  on  himself  and  his  own  exertions. 


NEGRO    JACK. 

A  school  being  much  wanted  among  the  Protestants,  the 
writer  hired  a  small  house  a  short  distance  below  the  town, 
borrowed  money  of  his  friends  to  commence  housekeeping, 
and  began  to  receive  pupils.  In  this  undertaking  the  greatest 
difficulty  that  presented  itself  was  the  want  of  domestic  ser- 
vants. Where  all  are  owners  of  slaves,  no  man  can  keep 
house  without  them.  He  must  own  them  himself,  or  hire 
those  belonging  to  others.  The  latter  expedient  was  tried  by 
the  writer,  both  from  inclination  and  for  the  want  of  means  to 
purchase,  but  it  was  found  impracticable.  No  one  would 
hire  out  good  servants;  and  those  of  a  different  character 
were  not  worth  having.  To  borrow  money  and  purchase 
was  the  only  way  left,  except  to  give  up  and  quit  the  country. 

At  this  juncture  the  writer  possessed  the  friendship  of  Dr. 
Robert  Dow,  afterwards  one  of  the  wardens  of  his  Church. 
He  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  had  been  long  and  most 
esteemed  in  New  Orleans  and  throughout  the  country.  Unit- 
ing the  kindness  of  the  best  of  friends  with  the  character  of  a 
family  physician,  he  saw  the  difficulty,  and  advised  an  imme- 
diate application  to  the  bank  for  funds,  which  would  soon  be 
repaid  by  the  avails  of  the  school. 

In  following  this  advice,  a  slave  presented  himself  of  pecu- 
liar qualities.     His  name  was  Jack,  and  his  age  about  nine- 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  75 

teen.  He  said  he  was  from  Baltimore ;  that  his  master  had 
met  with  misfortunes,  and  was  unable  to  keep  him  in  decent 
clothes,  (for  he  was  very  poorly  clad ;)  but  that,  if  the  writer 
would  buy  him,  he  would  serve  him  faithfully  and  be  grateful 
for  a  decent  and  quiet  home,  to  which,  till  his  removal  hither, 
he  had  been  accustomed.  His  master  was  consulted,  who 
confirmed  what  the  lad  had  said,  and  the  purchase  of  the  slave 
was  soon  completed  by  the  payment  of  five  hundred  dollars. 
This  event  took  place  in  the  year  1807,  which  date,  for  rea- 
sons which  will  appear  in  the  course  of  this  narrative,  ought 
to  be  remembered.  The  slave  being  put  in  good  clothes  as  a 
house  servant,  soon  became  noted  for  his  manly  yet  modest 
deportment,  and  waited  in  the  family  for  about  three  months, 
when  he  shipped  himself  on  board  the  Thomas  Jefferson,  just 
ready  to  sail  for  Liverpool  —  went  with  a  fair  wind  and  swift 
current  down  the  river,  and  out  to  sea  —  and  the  writer  never 
saw  him  more. 

And  here  a  few  reflections  suggest  themselves.  The  first 
is,  that  all  the  events  of  our  lives,  being  under  the  superin- 
tending direction  and  care  of  an  Almighty  and  infinitely  wise 
Creator  and  Judge,  who  will  make  all  things  work  together 
far  his  own  honor,  the  utter  folly  of  complaining  and  fretting 
at  his  providence  must  be  apparent.  And  yet  who  is  exempt 
from  this  folly  !  The  writer  at  that  time  thought  it  peculiarly 
unfortunate,  hard  pressed  as  he  was,  on  all  hands,  for  means 
to  get  on,  and  do  his  duty  in  that  expensive  place,  to  be  so 
deceived  by  a  slave.  Little  did  he  think  how  mature  reflection 
on  the  evils  of  slavery  would  heal  the  wound;  and  above  all, 
how  this  event,  insignificant  in  itself,  might,  in  his  subsequent 
life,  raise  him  from  deep  distress,  and  be  the  means,  in  the 
hand  of  God,  of  greatly  benefiting  his  ('lunch,  in  founding  an 
important  institution  of  religion  and  learning. 

But  to  return.  The  school  increased,  and,  for  greater  facil- 
ity in  the  attendance  of  pupils,  proposals  were  made  for  mov- 
ing into  town.  But  before  this  took  place,  an  excursion  was 
suggested  by  a  dear  friend,  across  the  lakes  Pontchartrain  and 
Maurepas,  for  health,  after  the  confinement  of  school-keep mg 
and  public  duties.    In  relating  the  incidents  of  this  trip,  the 

writer  feels  some  diffidence,  as  it  was  aside  and  apart  from  the 


76  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

path  of  professional  duty.  As  such  he  reflects  upon  it  with 
feelings  of  regret  and  sorrow ;  though  the  merciful  dealings  of 
Providence,  in  saving  his  life  and  that  of  those  with  him,  are 
remembered  with  the  most  heartfelt  gratitude. 

The  design  was  to  visit  Bookter's  spring,  a  fountain  of 
water  boiling  from  the  earth ;  —  a  rare  object  to  look  upon 
among  such  as  dwell  upon  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  in 
southern  latitudes.  Few  who  are  accustomed  from  their 
infancy  to  drink  of  the  pure  stream  gushing  from  the  living 
rock,  can  at  once  content  themselves  to  quench  their  thirst 
always  with  the  muddy  water  of  the  great  Mississippi :  for 
even  though  clarified  by  filtration  or  other  means,  it  wants  the 
ideal  blessedness  of  flowing  immediately  from  the  hand  of  our 
Heavenly  Father,  through  the  kind  bosom  of  our  Mother 
Earth. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

A    PERILOUS    ADVENTURE. 

It  was  in  the  month  of  May,  1808,  when,  according  to  a 
previous   arrangement,    the  writer,  with  one  hired  servant, 

named  Jim,  called  on  his  friend,  Captain  W C ,  in 

the  city  of  New  Orleans,  to  bear  him  company  in  a  short  ex- 
cursion across  the  lakes  to  Bookter's  spring,  which  was  said 
to  be  some  short  distance  from  Tickfah  river,  which  empties 
itself  into  Maurepas  lake.     Capt.  C.  said  he  had  just  received 

a  letter  from  Mr.  D ,  who  lived  on  Bayou  Barbara,  some 

distance  up  the  Amite  river,  in  which  Mr.  D requested 

him  to  bring  with  him  his  servant,  then  waiting  in  the  city 
for  an  opportunity  of  coming  to  his  master.  "This  circum- 
stance," said  he,  "will  afford  company  for  Jim,  and  serve  to 
lighten  his  burden  of  duty  in  waiting  on  us."  Taking  all 
things  necessary  to  make  us  comfortable,  even  though  we 
were  to  find  no  houses  of  entertainment,  such  as  a  tent,  cook- 
ing utensils  and  provisions,  we  proceeded  to  the  lake  through 
Bayou  St.  Johns. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  77 

The  post  of  that  name  at  the  mouth  of  the  Bayou  was  in 
the  keeping  of  the  American  officers,  who  treated  us  with 
great  civility,  as  did  the  captains  of  the  gun-boats  which  lay 
off  in  the  lake.  With  these  warm-hearted  gentlemen,  we 
passed  the  night  on  the  peaceful  bosom  of  that  charming  sheet 
of  salt  water,  being  a  part  of  the  gulf  of  Mexico.  The  white 
sand  at  the  bottom  makes  it  perfectly  transparent.  It  abounds 
with  fish  of  the  finest  quality,  particularly  the  sheepshead, 
which  are  transported  alive  up  the  Bayou  to  New  Orleans 
market,  and  sold  at  a  lower  rate  than  in  any  of  the  northern 
states.  Thus  benevolent  is  the  hand  of  Providence  to  this 
great  city,  situated  more  than  an  hundred  miles  above  the 
mouth  of  the  father  of  waters. 

Soon  after  breakfast  we  went  on  board  of  a  small  schooner 
to  Rome,  a  little  place  just  beginning  to  rear  its  head  on  the 
Tickfah  river,  a  few  miles,  say  ten  or  twelve,  from  its  mouth. 
A  fine  wind  soon  carried  us  through  the  pass  into  the  lake 
Maurepas,  and  thence  to  the  mouth  of  the  river.  Its  water 
was  deep  and  black,  and  overhung  with  the  boughs  of  the 
cypress  trees,  which  were  loaded  with  long  moss  of  a  gray 
color,  and  hanging  even  from  the  topmost  limbs.  We  were 
amused,  in  making  the  vessel  fast  alongside  the  muscle- 
shoal  banks,  by  pulling  down  the  vast  sheets  of  moss  that 
overshadowed  us.  The  fact  is  almost  incredible  by  those  who 
have  never  seen  it.  It  seems  strange  that  a  vegetable  sub- 
stance should  grow  from  the  tops  of  trees  forty  and  fifty  feet 
high,  nourished  only  by  the  moisture  of  the  atmosphere,*  and 
be  of  a  strength  sufficient  not  only  to  sustain  itself,  but  the 
weight  of  several  hanging  on  it.  This  was  proven  by  experi- 
ment. By  winding  together  a  mass  of  it,  we  could,  but  with 
much  difficulty,  pull  it  down ;  and  when  it  did  come,  it 
brought  many  limbs  of  the  tree  with  it,  in  all   sufficient  to 

*  This  same  species  of  plant  (may  it  not  be  called  the  epidendron,  or  Jlos  ccris  of 
America?)  is  found  in  great  abundance  on  thfl  rich  ground*  of  Illinois,  only  in  a  more 
bumble  form.    About  midsummer  there  ap[>ears  a  bright,  almost  reddish  fellow  vine, 

of  the  lize  of  a  small  wire,  spreading  itself  on  tin'  top  of  tin-  large  and  thick  weeds. 

This  viae  Increase!  not  in  si/..',  bat  la  theaumber  of  its  branches,  till  then  appears  a 

mass,  tor  many  yards  amund,  resembliaga  web  ofdotb.    On  examination,  these  vines 

are  found  never  n>  spring  from  the  ground  ;  hut  the  commencement  is  a  twist  or  quid 

of  the  vin.'  round  the  Item  of  a  weed,  a  foot  or  more  from  the  ground,  resembling  the 
worm  of  a  cork-screw,  with  the  wire  broken  short  oil. 

7* 


78  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

cover  the  deck  of  the  schooner.  This  is  the  vegetable  that 
proves,  when  the  bark  is  rotted  off  the  fibre,  so  extensive  and 
useful  an  article  of  commerce  for  upholsterers.  Its  fibre  is 
strong,  and  almost  equal  to  the  best  of  animal  hair. 

Rome  had  but  few  cabins  in  it,  and  these  were  of  so  uncom- 
fortable an  aspect  as  to  make  us  prefer  the  conveniences  of 
our  tent,  which  we  pitched  near  the  banks  of  the  river.  As 
the  vessel  proceeded  no  further  up,  our  object  was  to  make 
inquiry  as  to  other  means  of  getting  to  Bookter's  spring,  which 
we  found  was  at  a  greater  distance  than  we  expected.  While 
waiting,  some  persons  called  in  to  see  us,  and  among  the  rest 

a  Mr.  J ,  who,  as  he  will  prove  a  prominent  character  in 

the  dramatis  persona  of  the  following  distressing  narrative, 
some  attempt  will  be  made  to  describe  him. 

First,  his  personal  appearance ;  and  secondly,  some  of  his 
moral  qualities.     Imagine  a  man  five  feet  six  inches  in  height, 
small  black  eyes  rather  depressed  between  prominent  eye- 
brows, high  cheek-bones  covered  with  a  good  share  of  flesh, 
and  fine  skin  as  red  as  a  blaze,  evidently  occasioned  by  fre- 
quent potations  of  ardent  spirits ;  his  neck  rather  short,  around 
which  was  tied  a  black  silk  kerchief,  pretty  well  adjusted  after 
recent  use  of  the  razor ;  a  blue  roundabout,  of  tolerably  fine 
wool  and  texture,  thickly  studded  with  small  yellow  buttons ; 
a  pair  of  pantaloons  of  the  same,  and  similarly  trimmed :  his 
shoulders  broad,  but  rather  stooping ;  his  manners  indicating 
both  obtrusiveness  and  affected  civility  —  attempting  much 
respect  for  those  whom  he  would  address,  yet   anxious  to 
make  an  impression  of  his  own  consequence  at  every  favora- 
ble turn  of  the  conversation.     He  talked  very  fast,  and  evi- 
dently would  do  so  all  the  time,  were  it  not  that  he  must 
listen  to  gratify  his  own  curiosity  as  to  who  you  were,  what 
your  business,  whither  you  were  going,  when  to  return,  and, 
above  all,  to  settle  the  important  point  whether  you  could  be 
induced  either  to  buy  some  of  the  lands  of  which  he  was  the 
agent,  or  to  recommend  their  good  qualities  so  as  to  induce 
others  to  do  so.     He  seemed  to  take  great  pleasure  in  men- 
tioning his  connection  with  great  men,  such  as  Daniel  Clark, 
who  had  possessed  himself  of  so  much  lands  in  the  time  of  the 
Spaniards,  and  Mr.  M'D ,  to  whom  the  said  Daniel  had 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  79 

given  so  much  of  his  lands,  of  which  this  Mr.  J had 

become  part  owner  and  principal  agent. 

Just  as  he  had  finished  one  of  these  long  sentences  of  self- 
recommendation  and  panegyric  on  his  lands,  Mr.  D ap- 
proached in  his  hunting-shirt  and  with  his  rifle  gun.  He  had 
come  across  from  Bayou  Barbara,  eight  or  ten  miles  distant, 
in  quest  of  some  provisions.     The  meeting  with  Capt.  W. 

C was  rather  fortunate,  as  the  servant  was  transferred 

from  one  to  the  other  without  any  further  trouble.     "But 

whither  are  you  going?"  said  Mr.  D to  Capt.  W.  C . 

On  learning  our  destination  he  smiled  and*shook  his  head, 
while  he  intimated  that  little  pleasure  might  be  expected  from 
the  jaunt.  Alas!  how  wise  we  are  to  discover  the  wrong 
courses  of  others  in  the  pursuit  of  happiness,  yet  how  blind 
to  the  tendency  of  our  own  !  The  truth  of  this  will  soon  be 
seen. 

"  You  will  have  no  satisfaction,"  continued  Mr.  D ,  "in 

trying  to  visit  Bookter's  spring.  Why  not  go  with  me  to  my 
plantation,  the  only  one  fairly  begun  in  all  this  purchase? 
Indeed,   I  am  the  first  settler,   and  claim  your   company." 

Capt.  W.  C said  he  had  some  business  at  the  spring ;  but 

as  the  means  of  getting  there  seemed  difficult,  he  thought  that 
his  fellow-traveller  (meaning  the  writer)  would  find  it  for  his 
comfort  to  accept  of  the  invitation,  and  stay  in  the  neighbor- 
hood till  his  return.  This  reply  gave  additional  force  to  Mr. 
D 's  importunities,  and  the  project  of  going  to  Bayou  Bar- 
bara  was  assented  to ;   and  Mr.  J ,  hoping  to  point  out 

some  great  excellences  of  his  lands,  kindly  oifered  to  go  along 
himself,  with  his  two  horses,  to  lighten  the  tediousness  of  the 
walk.  "  I  will  pilot  you,"  said  he,  "  and  by  a  much  nearer 
way."  This  proposal  was  of  little  consequence,  as  the  dis- 
tance was  not  great.  "  I  will  go,  and  by  my  compass  will 
show  you  a  new  and  nearer  way  to  Bayou  Barbara."  This 
was  said  with  an  air  of  great  consequence,  and  with  an  evi- 
dent reliance  on  his  own  wisdom  and  knowledge  of  the  coun- 
try ;    so  that  the  tlniiLi   seemed   settled   in   the  mind   of  Mr. 

D ,  whose  uncommonly  prepossessing  appearance  made 

the  project  to  which  he  should  assent  agreeable  to  all  others. 

This  gentleman  was  a  native  of  North  ( 'aroliua,  well  educated, 


80  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

and  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  Under  such  circum- 
stances it  is  not  strange  that  the  writer  should  feel  himself 
honored  in  being  the  first  visitor  and  tasting  the  first  hospitali- 
ties at  the  Bayou  Barbara  plantation.  Accordingly  the  plan 
was  arranged  and  the  order  of  march  taken  up.     First  came 

Mr.  J on  horseback,  with  a  bag  of  Indian  meal  under 

him,  and  his  compass  in  his  hand ;  then  followed  the  servant 

man  of  Mr.  D •,  with  a  ham  on  one  shoulder  and  an  axe 

on  the  other ;  then  the  hired  yellow  man  Jim,  with  a  blanket, 
a  large  tin  cup,  knife  and  hatchet,  and  flint  and  spunk  to  strike 

fire. 

This  is  mentioned  for  reasons  which  will  appear  afterwards. 
Jim,  though  the  slave  of  another,  was  not  wanting  in  natural 
understanding,  or  in  powers  of  keen  discernment.  From  the 
boasting  conduct  of  Mr.  J— — ,  and  from  his  proposing  to  go 
some  new  way,  he  suspected  his  designs  were  to  show  the 
quality  of  his  lands,  and  in  so  doing  lead  the  whole  party  into 
some  dismal  predicament.  Whatever  regularity  there  might 
be  in  this  train  of  thought,  one  thing  is  certain— he  had  pre- 
pared for  the  worst.  The  rear  was  brought  up  by  the  writer 
on  horseback,  enjoying  the  pleasing  conversation  of  Mr. 
D ,  who  was  in  high  spirits,  walking  with  his  rifle  on  his 

shoulder. 

If  the  reflecting  reader  would  take  a  birdseye  view  of  this 
imperfect  description  of  the  scenes  of  the  morning,  connecting 
them  with  the  events  of  the  tour,  as  they  will  be  faithfully 
related,  he  will  see  an  exact  resemblance  of  human  life.  The 
whole  comports  so  precisely  with  the  history  of  the  writer, 
that  he  notes  it  with  melancholy  pleasure.  The  morning  had 
been  spent  in  ideal  plans  of  earthly  comfort,  blindly  confiding 
in  the  boastful  pretensions  of  others,  as  having  in  themselves 
the  resources  necessary  to  ensure  success,  regardless  of  the 
Power  who  alone  can  direct  our  steps  and  crown  us  with  his 
blessing.  Thus  far  is  represented  infancy  and  childhood. 
The  time  (about  9  A.  M.)  in  our  present  narrative,  represents 
youth  opening  on  us  in  brilliant  hopes,  anxious  preparations, 
and  busy  arrangements  for  future  progress;  God  smiling  on 
us,  though  we  are  regardless  of  him ;  the  air  mild  and  the  sky 
serene  ;  and  the  bright  and  genial  sun  giving  beauty  to  every 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  81 

object,  vigor  to  every  plant,  and  fragrance  to  every-  flower. 
Let  every  old  man,  like  the  writer,  take  a  retrospect  of  his 
days  of  childhood  and  youth,  and  behold  the  resemblance ! 
How  far  it  will  hold  between  his  whole  life  and  the  events  of 
this  short  tour  for  pleasure,  the  reader  will  judge  when  all  the 
numbers  of  these  Reminiscences  shall  have  been  published. 

Our  guide,  Mr.  J ,  went  fearlessly  onward,  all  the  com- 
pany following  in  mute  obedience;  for  the  action  of  the  lungs 
yielded  to  the  rapid  motion  of  the  limbs.  At  length  fatigue 
brought  on  thirst,  and  this  must  be  quenched  with  water, 
which  everywhere  abounded,  a  copious  rain,  a  few  days  be- 
fore, having  saturated  the  earth.  About  this  time  of  stopping 
to  drink,  not  far  from  noon,  we  passed  a  ravine,  which,  though 
not   deep,    was   somewhat   singular   in   so   level  a  country. 

Whether  Mr.  D observed  it  at  the  time  or  not,  the  writer 

does  not  remember ;  but  he  frequently  said  that  we  had  gone 
far  enough  to  have  passed  the  Bayou  Barbara.     Whenever 

he  did  so,  Mr.  J laughed  him  to  scorn,  and  obtruded  his 

own  self-confident  opinions  and  bold  assertions  with  so  much 
force,  and  mingled  with  such   contempt  of  the  privilege  to 

think  in  others,  that  poor  Mr.  D seemed  to  quail  and 

give  up  all  right  to  judge  for  himself. 

These  were  the  first  moments  of  pain  in  the  bosom  of  the 

writer.     But  what  did  they  avail?     Mr.  J was  always 

with  his  compass  ahead,  calling  out,  "Come  on;  here's  the 
course;  we  shall  soon  be  there."  Thus  the  whole  day  was 
spent.  The  cloud,  which  for  some  time  had  covered  from  our 
view  the  progress  of  the  sun,  could  now  no  longer  deceive  us 
with  the  fond  hope  that  he  yet  lingered  in  the  skies.  Night 
came  on,  and  spread  its  sable  mantle  on  all  around  us.  "  We 
can  go  no  further,"  was  the  cry.  "  Here  is  water,  and  a  dry 
place  on  the  fallen  leaves  of  last  year  on  which  to  repose  our- 
selves for  the  night."  All  threw  down  their  burdens  :  the 
horses  were  " spanceled :" *  Jim  struck  fire  from  "the  faith- 
ful flint,"  (for  loco  focos  were  not  then  invented;)  and,  as- 
sisted by  Mr.  I) 's  servant,  soon  oil. vied  dry  limbs  of 

trees,  when  a  cheerful  lire  "beat  back  the  darkness,"  which 
so  soon   at'tt-r   sundown  in  this  latitude  (XI ■  north)   "comes 

*  A  word  commonly  used  to  signify  the  tying  of  the  Ion  legl  toother. 


82  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

pouring  on."      We  all  looked  upon  each  other  with  silent 

astonishment,  Mr.  J excepted,   whose  mouth  now  was 

indeed  open  and  pouring  forth  a  flood  of  excuses  without  con- 
cessions. The  difficulty  with  him  was  to  preserve  the  char- 
acter he  had  assumed  as  the  most  sagacious  of  men,  while 
duly  accounting  for  the  blunders  he  had  made  through  con- 
ceit or  design,  neither  of  which,  for  the  whole  world,  would 
he  have  imputed  to  him.  He  yet  "knew  all  about  it,  and 
would  rectify  all  things  in  the  morning,  bringing  us  all  in  a 
few  minutes  to  the  place  where  we  would  be."  This  was 
urged  with  so  much  earnestness  and  confidence,  that  at  the 
end  of  his  several  harangues,  (and  they  were  frequent,)  he 
would  pretend  to  listen  and  actually  hear  the  dog  bark,  or  the 
servants  laugh,  that  belonged  to  the  Bayou  Barbara  planta- 
tion. As  no  one  answered  him  a  word,  he  seemed  to  think 
his  point  was  gained,  and  "growled  himself  into  something 
like  repose." 

"  But  what  are  we  to  do  for  bread?"  said  one  of  the  com- 
pany, as  one  of  the  servants  was  cutting  the  ham.  "Jim  is 
providing  for  that,"  said  Mr.  D ;  "look  at  him."  Con- 
scious that  every  one  should  be  assured  of  the  neatness,  —  say 
rather  cleanliness, — with  which  his  food  is  prepared,  Jim  had 
taken  the  precaution  to  roll  up  his  sleeves  and  wash  his  hands 
in  the  face  of  all  the  company,  and  then  to  cleanse  his  tin  cup, 
fill  it  with  meal,  and  wet  the  same  with  pure  water.  He  then 
plucked  the  largest  leaves  of  the  magnolia  trees,  which  grow 
in  that  region  in  abundance,  and  laying  on  the  ground  several 
of  them,  the  one  atop  of  the  other,  he  turned  his  cup  of  wetted 
meal  on  them.  The  leaves  were  then  drawn  around  and 
others  added,  and  the  whole  buried  in  the  fire  of  coals,  and 
dry  wood  heaped  over.  The  time  of  keeping  this  in  baking 
was  about  an  hour,  when  the  fire  was  dashed  aside,  and  the 
cake  taken  out.  The  innermost  leaves,  by  reason  of  the  steam 
from  the  wetted  meal,  were  not  even  scorched,  and  when 
peeled  off  by  the  skilful  hand  of  Jim,  the  pure  bread  appeared 
most  inviting,  and  greatly  to  be  desired,  by  reason  of  its  un- 
common fragrance,  a  quality  peculiar  to  bread  from  Indian 
corn.  It  need  not  be  said  how  grateful  was  this  food,  in 
connection  with  broiled  ham,  to  the  fasting  appetites  of  the 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  83 

wearied  company.     Even  Mr.  J seemed  to  forget  that  he 

was  commander-in-chief  of  the  little  army,  and  partook,  in 
common  with  the  less  worthy,  of  the  delicious  food. 

Jim's  fidelity  and  expertness  in  his  way  had,  before  we 
began  to  think  of  it,  provided  a  comfortable  place  of  repose  for 
the  night.  Some  stakes  were  stuck  in  the  ground,  transverse 
pieces  were  laid  across  them,  and  branches  of  trees  in  full 
foliage  covered  all,  and  hung  down  on  all  sides  but  that 
towards  the  fire.  Thus  everything  seemed  to  promise  com- 
fort but  the  musquitoes.  To  obviate  this  difficulty,  the  prep- 
aration of  much  moist  fuel  was  made,  and  the  smoke  rolled 
round  us  in  volumes.  The  night  was  spent  with  our  feet  to 
the  fire,  a  salutary  precaution  to  all  those  who  happen  to  be 
similarly  situated,  according  to  the  sententious  adage  of  Boer- 
haave,  "  Keep  your  head  cool  and  your  feet  warm." 

The   dawn   of  the  morning  was  ushered  in  accompanied 

with  the   shrill  voice  and  boastful  language  of  Mr.   J . 

He  addressed  himself  chiefly  to  Mr.  D ,  who,  under  the 

powerful  effects  of  his  oratory,  seemed  to  lose  all  command  of 
himself.  The  company  arose,  and  feeling  feverish,  with  little 
appetite  for  an  early  breakfast,  the  camp  was  soon  broken  up, 

and  Mr.  J on  horseback  called  out  for  all  to  follow  him. 

They  obeyed;  for  how  could  it  be  otherwise?     He  had  the 

compass,  the  two  horses  were  his,  and  Mr.  D was  under 

his  control  even  to  infatuation,  being  entirely  bewildered. 
The  open  woods  began  to  be  covered  with  briars  of  the  most 
obstructing  and  pain-giving  qualities.  These  catching  in  our 
clothes,  tore  them  in  pieces;  and  the  naked  skin  being  in 
many  places  exposed,  the  trickling  blood  began  to  show  that 
we  were  all  in  most  piteous  plight.  The  only  thing  that  com- 
forted us  was  the  frequent  opportunities  afforded  to  soothe  our 
parched  mouths  with  the  delicious  berries  which  grew  on  our 
annoying  enemy,  the  briars. 

It  will  be  recollected  that  it  was  in  the  month  of  May  when 
these  events  occurred,  and  thus  early  do  these  blackberries 
come  to  perfection  in  West  Florida.  That  they  Eire  nourish- 
ing, ms  w-.ll  as  pleasant  to  the  taste,  is  not  questioned;  but  it 
is  their  aperient  quality  which  rendered  them  of  most  provi- 
dential benefit  to  us  in  the  case  in  question,  for  without  this, 


84  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

a  fever,  doubtless,  would  have  followed  our  most  violent  exer- 
cise and  exposed  condition.  How  evidently  doth  the  good 
Being  who  ruleth  our  destinies  watch  over  us  in  mercy, 
making  the  very  thorns  that  wound  us  the  instruments  of  our 
health ! 

But  why  was  there  no  halting  this  day  for  consultation? 
Answer:    There   were   frequent   attempts   this  way  by  the 

writer  with  Mr.  D ,  but  to  little  purpose.     His  reply  was, 

that  he  was  "  lost,"  and  that  Mr.  J had  the  compass  and 

was  the  commander-in-chief,  and  knew  the  country  better  than 
he  did,  especially  now  in  a  bewildered  state,  and  that  we 
ought  to  trust  all  to  him.  At  this,  which  was  frequently  said, 
Jim  seemed  much  distressed,  but  said  nothing.  Thus,  after 
eating  a  morsel,  the  day  rolled  on  through  a  sea  of  incessant 
pain  and  trouble,  and  not  even  a  star  of  hope  to  cheer  us.  It 
was  past  three  o'clock  when  we  came  to  a  windfall  of  trees, 
where  we  had  to  jump  our  horses  over  some. large  logs,  sit- 
uated in  moist  ground,  thus  making  a  track  with  their  feet 
plain  to  be  seen,  —  a  circumstance  that  was  shortly  of  great 
service. 

From  this  place  we  went  forty  or  fifty  rods,  and  came  into 
open  ground,  made  so  by  a  late  fire  burning  off  the  brush  and 

briars.     Here,  fatigued  and  in  evident  despair,  poor  Mr.  D 

sat  himself  down,  as  did  also  the  servants.     Mr.  J all  on 

a  sudden  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  off  to  the  right  in  full 
speed,  in  search,  he  said,  of  Cow  Bluff.  What  and  where 
this  place  was,  no  one  could  tell ;  but  the  flourish  was  evi- 
dently intended  to  keep  up,  in  the  minds  of  the  party,  the 
idea  of  his  own  consequence  as  to  a  knowledge  of  the  country, 
and  his  ability  still  to  conduct  their  destinies.  Vain  effort ! 
The  writer  saw  the  time  had  come  in  which  to  determine  for 
life  or  death.  He  had  made  himself  just  before  the  keeper  of 
the  compass  for  a  short  period,  and  this  he  was  determined 
not  to  surrender.  To  seize  the  property  of  another,  and  to 
detain  it  contrary  to  his  will,  is  confessedly  wrong :  at  the 
same  time,  life  is  dear,  and  the  consciousness  that  by  so  doin'g 
he  might  save,  not  only  himself,  but  the  lives  of  all  the  rest, 
convinced  him  that  he  should  obey  the  spirit  and  not  the 
letter  of  the  law  —  to  save  and  not  to  destroy.     But  before 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  85 

any  good  could  easily  result  from  a  determination  of  this 
kind,  it  was  evidently  :necessary  that  the  confidence  of  Mr. 

D should  be  won.     How  this  could  be  effected,  when  he 

seemed  so  completely  the  dupe  of  Mr.  J ,  did  not  as  yet 

appear ;  but  what  man  could  not  achieve,  the  good  providence 
of  God  effected,  and  that  very  shortly. 

The  writer's  coat  was  torn  almost  to  rags ;  but  the  pockets, 
being  of  strong,  coarse  linen,  remained  entire,  and  in  them 
was  found  a  pocket-book  containing,  folded  up,  a  sheet  of 
paper  and  a  pencil.  This  circumstance  was  of  most  signal 
use  at  this  juncture ;  for  with  these  materials  he  delineated, 
from  memory,  a  map  embracing  the  country  in  which  we 
were  so  unhappily  bewildered,  as  the  same  was  connected 
with  parts  adjacent,  and  particularly  the  rivers  Amite  and 
Tickfah,  somewhere  between  which  we  were  then  wandering. 
In  laying  down  the  Bayou  Barbara,  the  writer  asked  several 

questions  of  Mr.  D as  to  the  direction  it  came  from  before 

it  reached  the  neighborhood  of  his  plantation,  all  of  which  he 
answered  with  complacency,  and  then  appealed  to  him  and  to 
the  memory  of  the  servants  as  to  the  points  of  compass  we 
had  from  time  to  time  steered,  or  seemed  to  steer,  and  the  dis- 
tances we  had  travelled  during  the  time  of  each  direction.  All 
this  was  marked  down  rapidly  on  the  map.  The  whole  made 
but  a  sad  figure,  resulting  in  the  fact  that  we  had  come  above 
thirty  miles  from  Rome,  and  had  passed  the  source  of  Bayou 
Barbara  nearly  twenty  miles  behind  us.     This  could  not  be 

credited  by  Mr.  D ,  and  yet  he  gazed  upon  it  with  eager 

attention.  "Is  it  so?"  said  he.  "Yes,"  said  the  writer, 
"and  the  only  way  of  extricating  ourselves  is  to  steer  directly 
for  the  Amite  river,  not  turning  our  course  till  wo  are  on  its 
hanks,  and  then  descending  it,  reach  your  plantation  before 
we  perish."  To  the  correctness  of  this  plan  he  seemed  for  a 
moment  to  assent,  and  at  this  Jim  leaped  for  joy. 

.hist  at  this  point  of  time  Mr.  J appeared,  flushed  with 

new  confidence  in  the  correctness  of  his  opinions,  and  imme- 
diately proposed  ,i  course  of  march  directly  contrary  to  that 
fixed  on  by  the  writer.  He  now  knew  where  we  were,  and 
by  following  him,  we  should  soon  be  extricated  from  all  our 

difficultii         "Mr.  J ,  will  you  Ik?  kind   enough   to  cast 

8 


86  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

your  eyes  on  this  map?"  He  did  so,  but  said  abruptly  that 
he  had  no  confidence  in  it.  "  The  way  you  propose  to  go," 
he  added,  "  would  be  the  way  we  came,  and  to  proceed 
in  it  would  carry  us  back  again  into  all  the  difficulties  from 
which  we  have  just  escaped."  "Not  so,"  said  the  writer, 
"for  we  came  from  that  direction,"  pointing  to  the  fallen  trees 
over  which  we  had  just  jumped  our  horses.  This  he  flatly 
denied ;  so  the  matter  was  brought  to  an  issue,  and  the  whole 
question  was  to  be  settled  by  an  appeal  to  our  senses. 

Solely  from  the  wish  to  settle  Mr.  D 's  distracted  mind, 

was  it  urged  by  the  writer  that  we  should  all  go  to  the  place 
where  we  had  leaped  our  horses ;  and  yet,  while  on  the  way 
thither,  he  pleaded  fatigue  and  sat  down,  saying  he  had  no 

doubt  Mr.  J was  right,  and  that  he  would  trust  himself 

to  him  without  examination.  Stung  to  the  heart  by  this  fail- 
ure, the  writer  insisted  that  Mr.  J should  accompany  him. 

Arriving  at  the  spot,  there  were  plainly  to  be  seen  not  only 
the  prints  of  the  horses'  tracks,  but  those  of  the  travellers  on 
foot.  "  Are  you  now  convinced  I  was  right  and  you  wrong 
in  your  assertion?"    said   the  writer.     He   replied,    "Yes." 

Then  said  the  writer,  "  Will  you  own  to  Mr.  D that  you 

have  been  mistaken  ?  "     "No,"  was  the  reply.     "You  must 

do  so."     "I  will  never  own  myself  to  be  in  the  wrong ! " 

and  here  followed  language  too  unbecoming  to  be  recorded  in 
this  memoir.  It  was  filled  with  profane  vainboasting  and 
abusive  epithets.  Passion  even  to  madness  seemed  to  shake 
the  frame  of  this  wretched  man.  Happily  no  blows  were 
necessary,  though  an  expectation  of  immediate  chastisement 
only  brought  him  to  reason.     In  a  moment  he  cooled  down, 

said  he  had  been  in  the  wrong  and  would  tell  Mr.  D so, 

and  that  he  was  willing  the  writer  should  carry  the  compass 
and  direct  the  course  of  the  march.     This  promise  he  fulfilled 

on  returning  to  Mr.   D ,  who  now  began  to  be  himself 

again.  Jim,  whose  life  was  doubtless  as  dear  to  him  as  was 
ours  to  us,  was  evidently  much  pleased,  and  became  more 
cheerful  and  attentive  to  his  duties. 

But  as  we  were  all  to  live  or  die  together,  it  was  reasonable 
that  all  should  know  the  plan  of  proceeding  and  the  exact 
point  we  were  to  steer  to  gain  the  Amite  river,  that  all  might 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  87 

cooperate  in  pursuing  steadily  one  course,  veering  neither  to 
the  right  hand  nor  to  the  left.  It  was  now  about  5  P.  M., 
and  time  enough  was  left  to  travel  some  miles  before  dark. 
We  set  off  with  renovated  spirits,  though  somewhat  faint  with 
hunger.  The  briars  soon  became  less  and  less  annoying,  and 
before  dark  we  struck  into  a  thick  wood.  As  it  began  to  be 
dark,  thunder  was  heard  and  the  clouds  thickened.  We 
immediately  halted,  and  a  brisk  fire  was  kindled  ;  after  which 
both  servants  went  cheerily  to  work  in  peeling  large  sheets  of 
bark  from  the  trees,  to  shield  us  from  the  expected  rain.  The 
trees  were  generally  more  than  two  feet  in  diameter ;  of  course 
the  bark,  if  kept  entire,  was  six  feet  wide  and  upwards,  and 
rather  more  in  length,  as  the  person  could  reach  some  eighteen 
inches  above  his  head  in  cutting  the  upper  circle,  and  needed 
to  cut  the  lower  end  only  about  twelve  or  fourteen  inches  from 
the  ground.  Jim  was  an  adept  at  this  business,  and  it  was 
astonishing  to  see  how  neatly  he  would  bring  off  the  expansive 
sheets  of  bark  to  make  our  shelter. 

At  this  place  we  scraped  the  bone  of  our  ham,  and  baked  a 
little  meal.  Jim  doubled  his  assiduities  in  keeping  off  the 
musquitoes.  The  rain  did  not  fall  in  so  great  quantities  as 
expected  by  reason  of  the  loud  and  long  thunder,  and  we 
rose  in  the  morning  dry  and  refreshed.  How  good  is  God,  in 
judgment,  to  remember  mercy  !  The  morning  dawned  and 
we  pursued  our  way.  About  seven  o'clock  we  fell  in  with  a 
track  of  a  human  being,  and  it  was  particularly  gratifying 
that  this  cheering  index  pointed  very  nearly  the  same  way  we 
were  steering,  varying  only  one  point  and  a  half  of  the  compass 
on  which  we  had  fixed,  and  from  which  we  had  determined 
not  to  depart.  Observing  this,  a  consultation  was  held,  and 
all  were  agreed  to  follow  the  Indian  track.  A  rapid  pace  for 
a  short  time  brought  us  to  an  encampment  of  the  natives  of 
our  land.  All  were  gone,  but  evident  signs  were  seen  of  their 
having  passed  the  night  there,  their  fires  being  still  burning. 
The  whole  was  an  object  of  curiosity. 

The  country  being  flat,  and  subject  in  rainy  seasons  to 
dampness  and  standing  water,  the  Indians  had  obviated  the 
difficulty  by  raising  the  earth  a  little,  say  three  or  four  feet,  in 
a  circular  form,  tin-  diameter  of  which  we  judged  to  l»e  between 


88  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

thirty  and  forty  feet.  This  mound  was  indented  in  the  middle 
like  a  dish,  in  the  centre  of  which  was  the  fire  and  a  large 
heap  of  ashes.  Around  this  fire,  and  within  the  periphery  of 
the  highest  part  of  the  mound,  the  Indians,  evidently,  were 
wont  to  repose,  the  feet  inward  and  lowest,  and  their  heads 
outward  and  highest,  yet  not  so  high  as  to  reach  the  highest 
part  of  the  circumjacent  earth.  This  indicated  skill  in  pro- 
viding against  the  moisture  from  beneath,  and  the  cold  wind 
from  without,  next  akin,  and  a  small  degree  below,  that  which 
raises  a  wigwam.  Too  lazy  to  reach  the  latter,  their  ances- 
tors, at  least,  had  kept  to  the  former  degree  of  providing  for 
the  necessities  of  man. 

What  assured  us  of  the  antiquity  of  this  encampment  and 
this  rude  way  of  securing  comfort  was,  the  magnitude  of  the 
trees  standing  on  the  mound.  Indeed,  the  mound  appeared  to 
have  been  made  before  there  were  any  trees — when  the  whole 
country  was  a  vast  prairie,  open  to  the  keen  blast  of  the  wind 
from  every  quarter,  and  this  supposed  fact  may  account  for 
the  elevation  of  the  periphery  just  described ;  for  there  was  no 
difference  in  the  size  of  the  timber,  whether  off  or  on  the 
mound;  all,  evidently,  had  begun  to  grow  at  the  same  period 
of  time.  The  vast  quantities  of  fragments,  both  of  bones,  and 
skins,  and  hair  of  animals,  indicated  the  long  residence  of  this 
little  tribe  or  family  of  Indians  in  this  lone  place,  far  removed 
from  any  white  man's  settlement.  Those  of  hogs  were  par- 
ticularly noticeable ;  which  circumstance  convinces  the  writer 
that  this  species  of  animals  run  wild  in  greater  abundance  in 
this  latitude  than  is  generally  believed.  Even  further  north- 
ward this  sometimes  takes  place,  being  fully  able  to  defend 
themselves  against  the  rapacity  of  the  wolf  and  bear,  their 
natural  enemies ;  and  here,  in  the  warmer  regions,  they  must 
increase  both  in  numbers  and  strength. 

At  this  lonely  encampment,  evidently  so  long  occupied  by 
the  natives,  we  ate  a  little  of  the  remaining  meal,  and  set  our 
compass  according  to  our  previous  resolution.  The  Indian 
path  of  egress  was  nearly  opposite  that  by  which  we  had 
entered  the  camp,  and  led  in  the  same  direction  we  were 
steering.  This  was  cheering,  but  we  had  not  travelled  far 
before  it  turned  short  to  the  left.     However  enticing  this  well- 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  89 

beaten  path  seemed  to  a  company  of  lost  travellers,  yet  it  did 
not  cause  the  least  deviation  from  our  course,  which,  being 
faithfully  kept,  brought  us  in  a  few  miles  to  an  open  field, 
evidently  once  enclosed  and  cultivated.  The  place  where 
the  house  had  stood  was  plainly  discernible.  It  was  situate 
on  the  margin  of  a  dark,  deep  water.  The  plum  trees  were 
growing  all  around,  and  many  of  the  materials  of  which  the 
house  had  been  built  (all  of  cypress,  the  most  lasting  wood) 
were  still  in  being,  though  much  decayed,  and  many  large 
spaces  of  the  farm  were  covered  with  tender  grass,  fit  pasture 
for  our  wearied  horses.     The  river,  if  it  could  be  called  such, 

was  evidently  not  the  Amite,  whose  waters  Mr.  D knew 

to  be  of  a  different  color.  Perhaps  it  might  be  a  branch  of  that 
river.  It  was  so  overgrown  with  tall  trees,  covered  with  moss 
and  luxuriant  foliage,  and  so  winding  withal  in  its  course, 
that  we  could  see  but  a  little  way  either  up  or  down  the 
stream.  By  this  stream  we  were  stopped  in  our  journey  to 
the  Amite,  and  nothing  remained  for  us  but  to  suppose  it  led 
into  it,  and  try  to  build  a  raft  to  float  us  thither.  For  this 
purpose  we  had  recourse  to  the  decayed  remains  of  the  cypress 
house  and  fence ;  but  soon  perceiving  they  were  too  porous  and 
imbibed  too  much  water,  a  kind  of  despair  seized  the  whole 
company,  which  led  to  silent  agony  of  thought  and  sincere 
prayer  to  God. 

As  a  last  resort,  it  was  suggested  that  perhaps  we  were  not 
so  far  from  some  human  beings,  either  civilized  or  savage,  as 
to  prevent  our  being  heard :  some  signal  of  distress,  therefore, 
ought  to  be  made.  Accordingly  the  rifle  was  loaded  deep  as  it 
would  bear,  and  one  of  our  number  appointed  to  give,  imme- 
diately after  the  discharge,  the  loud  whoop.  This  w;is  tried. 
and,  after  the  third  repetition,  we  all  distinctly  hoard  an 
answer,  and  this  gave  reason  to  hope  that  relict"  would  come 
to  us.  It  behooved  us.  therefore,  t«>  wait  patiently.  It  is  not 
in  the  power  of  a  common  mind  to  conceive  the  intense 
anxiety  experienced  by  our  little  company,  during  the  few  long 
moments   which   intervened   between   the   last   answer  of  the 

unknown  heniLr  and  his  malting  his  appearance. 

At  length,  from  around  the  point  of  thick  trees,  borne  along 
on    two  short  pieces  of  large    logs,   tied  together  with  large 

8* 


90  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

hickory  withs,  came  our  deliverer.  It  was  with  the  utmost 
difficulty  he  could  propel  his  unwieldly  craft  through  the 
water,  sluggish  as  was  the  stream.  At  length,  by  the  help 
of  the  limbs  of  the  overhanging  trees,  he  brought  to  our  land- 
ing-place that  which  was  more  welcome  to  us  than  a  vessel 
laden  with  the  wealth  of  the  Indies. 

"What  stream  is  this?"  said  one  of  our  company.  "It  is 
Bayou  Cotohel,"  said  the  man.  "I  live  on  its  banks,  a  piece 
down,  where  I  heard  your  gun  and  whoop,  and  I  should  have 
been  here  sooner  had  my  canoe  been  at  home.  I  had  nothing 
left,  since  my  wife  has  gone  to  Galweston,  but  this  raft  of 
logs,  which  some  Indians  left  tied  to  the  shore  the  other  day ; 
so  I  must  needs  take  it,  or  not  relieve  you."  "Galweston! 
your  wife  gone  all  the  way  to  Galweston !  how  far  is  that 
from  this?"     "About  ten  miles,"  said  he. 

Here  let  the  reader  cast  his  eye  on  the  map  of  Louisiana, 
and  he  will  have  some  idea  how  far  we  had  wandered  from 
the  place  whence  we  started,  (Rome,)  and  from  the  place 
whither  we  were  going,  (Bayou  Barbara,) — more  than  fifty 
miles,  not  including  the  deviations.  "Where  is  the  river 
Amite?"  said  the  writer.  "About  one  mile  below  my  place," 
replied  the  man.  "Will  this  raft  bear  us?"  "Yes.  I  think 
three  of  you  can  get  on ;  the  other  two  can  go  down  a  piece  to 
the  point,  and  I  will  come  back  and  take  them  also." 

We  then  embarked,  and  bade  adieu  to  the  horses,  feeding 
in  the  green  pasture  field.  A  little  current,  with  our  united 
efforts,  soon  brought  us  to  the  poor  man's  plantation,  when 
he  immediately  returned  for  the  servants,  who  having  joined 
us,  we  all  went  up  to  the  house,  built  like  a  tent,  with  poles 
stuck  in  the  ground,  and  centring  at  the  top,  covered  with 
palmetto  leaves.  It  had  no  floor,  yet  the  ground  answering 
for  one  was  well  compacted  and  clear  of  dust,  and  every  arti- 
cle of  furniture  was  in  its  place.  There  was  a  sick  child  on  a 
bedstead  built  of  canes  or  large  reeds.  For  this  child  the 
mother  had  gone  for  medicine.  The  accommodations  were 
too  small  for  half  our  company ;  the  day  was  nearly  gone ; 
our  kind  deliverer  said  his  provisions  were  nearly  exhausted, 
since  his  wife,  by  whom  he  expected  a  supply,  had  over- 
stayed her  time  of  absence.     We  all  looked  at  each  other,  and 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  91 

asked  the  man  how  far  it  was  to  the  next  house.  "  O,"  said 
he,  "it  is  not  more  than  a  mile,  but  you'll  have  to  cross  or 
wade  a  bayou  up  to  your  waist,  and  it  is  growing  dark ;  but 
if  you  '11  light  each  a  piece  of  candle  wood,  of  which  I  have 
plenty,  and  keep  close  together,  holding  up  your  torches,  the 
alligators  will  be  frightened  and  not  touch  you."  "  How  far 
is  it  across  the  bayou  7"  said  one  of  the  company.  "Not 
more  than  forty  yards,"  was  the  reply.  "There  are  some 
deep  holes,  but  none  above  the  midriff."  This  was  dismal 
comfort  at  best ;  but  there  was  no  alternative.  We  gave  the 
man  the  remainder  of  our  meal,  received  his  'lighted  torches, 
and  took  up  the  order  of  our  march.  A  trail  led  us  to  the 
margin  of  the  bayou.  The  black  waters  reflecting  the  light 
of  our  torches,  which  again  was  reflected  from  the  impending 
foliage  of  huge  trees  growing  all  around  in  the  water,  showed 
that  indeed  the  bayou  was  there,  and  at  the  same  time  sent  a 
thrilling  sensation  of  horror  through  our  frames  at  the  bare 
thought  of  our  wading  through  it.  Nothing  had  been  experi- 
enced of  mental  agony  like  this  !  Yet  holding  our  torches  up, 
we  plunged  in,  as  if  to  dispel  terror  by  temerity.  The  black 
water  came  first  to  our  hips ;  anon  it  reached  to  the  breast  of 
the  tallest ;  and  now  the  snorting  of  the  alligators,  and  the  con- 
sequent shrieking  of  the  company  by  way  of  keeping  them 
from  us; — how  could  such  things  fail  of  making  a  deep 
impression  on  the  writer's  mind? 

On  passing  into  the  Amite  river,  we  saw  the  tribe  or  family 
of  Indians,  who  that  morning  had  left  their  camp,  as  before 
described.  Here  they  were,  men,  women,  and  children,  all 
seated  round  a  recently  kindled  fire.  They  immediately 
gathered  round  us  for  powder  and  shot.  Giving  them  what 
we  had,  we  bade  them  adieu,  and  went  forward  to  Mr.  Bow- 
ser's. Here  we  found  every  means  of  refreshment  necessary 
—  a  good  supper  and  a  quiet  night's  rest  on  beds  of  the  dry 
husks  of  Indian  corn.  In  the  morning  we  chartered  a  canoe, 
and  descended  rapidly  the  Amite  river.  The  rest  of  the  jour* 
aey  to  Bayou  Barbara,  and  thence  to  Rome,  may  be  easily 
imagined.     At  the  latter  place  we  found  the  writer's  friend, 

Capt  W C .     lie  had  returned  from  Book ter's  spring 

as  arranged,  and  spent  his  time  in  much  anxiety,  approaching 


92  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

to  despair,  about   us;   for  he  heard   frequently  from  Bayou 

Barbara,  where  neither  Mr.  D nor  his  friends  had  been 

heard  of  since  they  started.  The  news  of  this  was  spread, 
and  many  had  agreed  to  go  the  next  morning  in  search  of  the 
wanderers.  The  trouble  of  so  doing  was  now  saved.  A 
change  of  clothes  from  the  wardrobe  brought  with  us  from 
New  Orleans  was  now  peculiarly  refreshing,  and,  an  oppor- 
tunity of  crossing  the  lakes  soon  offering,  we  were  once  more 
safe  in  the  bosom  of  our  families. 

On  closing  this  narrative,  the  writer  desires  to  reiterate  the 
assurance,  that  he  would  not  have  left  it  on  record  but  from  a 
desire  to  publish  the  undeserved  mercy  of  God,  in  watching 
over  him  for  good,  and  extricating  him  from  difficulties,  even 
when  not  in  the  pursuit  of  his  bounden  duties.  If  there  is 
pleasure  in  acknowledging  the  long-suffering  of  our  Heavenly 
Father  towards  us,  when  we  are  wasting  our  precious  time 
aside  from  his  commandments,  how  must  that  pleasure  be 
enhanced  when  we  suffer  in  performing  our  duty  and  doing 
God's  revealed  will?  The  pursuit  of  health  in  this  excursion 
was  more  the  ideal  than  the  real  motive  which  led  to  it ;  and 
taking  a  retrospect,  the  writer,  now  that  he  beholds  the  whole 
through  the  medium  of  future  responsibility,  feels  a  pang  of 
deep  regret,  which  words  cannot  express. 


CHAPTER    X. 

SCENES  IN  NEW  ORLEANS SICKNESS  OF  THE  WRITER INCREASE  OF 

HIS  SCHOOL LEAVES  NEW  ORLEANS. 

There  happened  one  incident  more,  while  the  writer  lived 
down  the  river,  three  miles  from  New  Orleans,  which,  as  it 
was  long  afterwards  most  shamefully  misrepresented  by  one 
who  lived  in  a  house  immediately  adjoining,  it  may  not  be 
improper  here  to  state.  The  facts  were  these  : — Two  gentle- 
men, friendly  to  the  writer,  by  the  name  of  Leonard,  the  one 
a  druggist,  and  the  other  a  commission  merchant,  lived  in  New 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  93 

Orleans.  The  former  came  one  morning  from  town  and  said 
that  his  brother,  having  received  the  consignment  of  a  large 
cargo  of  negroes  just  from  the  slave  coast  in  Africa,  felt  it  his 
duty  to  take  the  best  care  of  them  in  his  power,  now  the  busi- 
ness was  thrown,  much  against  his  will  or  expectation,  into 
his  hands.  Some  of  them,  however,  he  said,  were  already  in 
a  perishing  state,  and  two  of  them  must  die  if  not  immedi- 
ately removed  from  the  rest  and  carefully  nursed.  His 
object  in  coming  to  us  was  to  ask  the  hivmane  favor  of  letting 
them  come  into  our  kitchen.  The  proposal  was  immediately 
assented  to,  and  one  end  of  the  servants'  house  became  a  hos- 
pital. By  the  assiduous  and  kind  nursing  afforded  through 
the  writer's  family,  one  of  these  poor  fellow-beings  was  saved 
from  death,  but  the  other,  after  lingering  long,  died. 

A  coffin  was  made  for  him  by  the  hired  servant,  Jim,  —  a 
grave  was  dug  at  the  lower  part  of  an  oblong  lot  of  several 
acres,  and  the  family  saw  him  decently  interred,  thinking  that 
his  soul  was  as  precious  in  the  eyes  of  his  and  our  great 
Creator  as  that  of  any  one  else.  How  this  cluster  of  events 
could  be  represented  as  a  sin,  and  urged  as  an  objection  to  the 
consecration  of  the  writer  to  the  office  of  a  Christian  Bishop, 
may  appear  strange,  but  will  be  hereafter  shown. 

The  school  was  removed  to  the  city,  and  commenced  there 
under  very  favorable  circumstances.  Many  from  town 
pressed  into  it,  and  not  a  few  came  from  the  country  and 
towns  up  the  river :  the  Dunbars  and  Geraults  from  the 
Natchez;  the  Sterlings  and  the  Barrows  from  Bayou  Sara; 
and  the  Percys  and  Evanses  from  Pinkneyville  and  Fort 
Adams;  all  of  the  choicest  and  the  best.  The  Church  also 
nourished,  the  congregations  were  large,  and  the  number  of 
the  communicants  increased. 


As  it  is  foreign  from  the  object  of  this  memoir  to  give  a  full 
and  regular  history  of  events  as  they  occurred,  but  such  only 
as  on  various  accounts  made  a  deep  impression  on  the 
memory,  and  may  prove  useful  to  others,  a  few  only  of  this 
Character  will  now  be  selected,  from  what  passed  while  a  resi- 
dent in  the  city.  Take  the  following  as  an  instance  of  the 
fatal  effects  of  long-indulged  "pride  and  vain-glory"    The 


94  bishop    chase's    reminiscences. 

common  term  by  which  this  fruit  of  our  natural  corruption  is 
known  is  "  high-mindedness"  being  a  quick  sense  of  false 
honor,  joined  to  deliberate  and  implacable  revenge. 

A  Mr.  C had  been  appointed  to  a  lucrative  office  soon 

after  the  cession  of  Louisiana.  The  writer  had  become 
acquainted  with  him,  and  his  pious  wife,  on  his  first  arrival 
in  the  country,  and  soon  discovered  in  him  a  latent  disposition 
to  resent  injuries.  He  would  talk  of  his  high  sense  of  honor, 
and  his  fixed  determination  never  to  brook  an  insult.  "Should 
any  man  ever  dare,  under  any  circumstances,  to  strike  him, 
he  would  lay  him  dead  at  his  feet."  No  remonstrance  was  of 
any  avail  in  pleading  against  so  dangerous  and  foolish  a  prin 
ciple  as  this.  His  deep  sense  of  honor,  he  said,  justified  him, 
and  that  was  sufficient.  This  man  little  thought  he  was  then 
cherishing  murder  in  his  soul,  and  that  God,  in  his  holy  prov- 
idence, would,  in  the  very  exercise  of  it,  crush  him  as  a  moth, 
and  make  the  viper  sting  itself  to  death.     All  this  while,  Mr. 

C 's  fondness  for  his  family  was  never  questioned,  and  his 

filial  affection  for  his  father  was  conspicuous ;  for,  on  leaving 
Philadelphia,  he  had  persuaded  his  father  and  his  step- 
mother to  accompany  him  to  New  Orleans,  and  in  some 
degree  to  be  sharers  of  his  fortune.  For  them  also  he  had 
hired  a  decent  house  and  chosen  a  good  stand  for  business, 
and  seemed  happy  to  see  them  well  settled  in  green  old  age 
about  him. 

Unhappily  this  couple,  notwithstanding  all  that  had  been 
done  in  setting  them  up  in  comfortable  business,  were  not 
agreed  among  themselves.  The  lady,  step-mother  to  young 
Mr.  C ,  who  kept  the  shop,  though  always  most  respect- 
ful to  the  patron,  was  not  always  so  to  his  father,  her  hus- 
band. This  was  resented,  and  matters  sometimes  came  to 
an  unhappy  issue,  even  personal,  corporal  contention.  This 
course  of  things  (for  it  got  whispered  round)  being  consid- 
ered disgraceful  to  his  family,  was  decidedly  reprobated  by 

Mr.  C ;  and  as  he  was  virtually  the  head  of  the  whole 

establishment,  he  gave  out  his  command  with  much  authority, 
that  there  should  be  no  more  contention  between  his  father  and 
step-mother.  This  formal  prohibition,  coming  from  him,  he 
thought,  would  quiet  every  rising  storm,  and  keep  the  moral 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  95 

atmosphere  in  his  father's  dwelling  always  calm  and  serene. 
Deceived  man !  little  did  he  think  that  the  flame  of  pride  and 
revenge  which  burned  in  his  own  bosom  was  still  unextin- 
guished in  the  heart  of  his  father,  and  without  the  grace  of 
God  neither  could  be  controlled. 

It  happened  one  day  that,  going  unexpectedly  into  his 
father's  house,  he  was  witness  to  a  most  unpleasant  scene  of 
personal  strife  between  his  step-mother  and  his  father.  To 
prevent  its  continuance,  he  threw  himself  instantly  between 
the  combatants,  and  putting  them  asunder  with  both  his  arms, 
turned  upon  each  the  frown  of  his  displeasure.  The  sense  of 
dependence  in  the  father  was  forgotten.  The  smothered  but 
not  suppressed  flame  now  broke  forth,  and  whether  the  blow 
was  intended  for  his  wife  or  his  son.  is  uncertain :   the  fact 

was,  it  came  full  in  the  face  and  eyes  of  young  C .     His 

long-cherished  pride  now  kindled  into  wrath,  and  wrath 
became  revenge,  and  revenge  lifted  up  his  hand  and  arm 
to  deal  death — the  long-promised  death  to  any  one  who 
should  strike  him.  The  deed  of  parricide,  the  dreadful  deed, 
was  prevented  by  the  very  excess  of  passion  which  prompted 
it ;  in  attempting,  with  fiend-like  rage,  to  fly  on  his  father,  he 
fell  powerless  at  his  feet.  The  paroxysm  of  anger  had  induced 
a  paralysis,  of  which,  in  a  short  time,  he  died.  The  writer 
visited  him  in  his  last  awful  sickness,  but  saw  nothing  like 
penitence  or  prayer. 

All  the  foregoing  facts  being  considered  together,  form  a 
beacon  of  most  commanding  influence,  especially  with  the 
rising  generation,  to  avoid  the  corrupting  principles  of  pride 
and  vain-glory,  which,  if  indulged,  lead  directly  to  revenge 
and  murder.  Let  not  the  young  man  say  he  will  stop  short 
of  the  enormous  crime  of  murder,  while  he  indulges  in  the 
principles  and  passions  which  lead  directly  to  it.  The  flame 
that  consumes  the  edifice  or  the  whole  city  was  but  a  spark. 
and  the  serpent's  bite  is  but  small  at  first,  but  left  to  itself,  the 
whole  frame  is  infected,  and  at  length  reason  is  dethroned. 
and  madness  and  death  ensue.  The  principle  of  revenge,  as 
established  by  a  proud  and  vain-glorious  world,  is  murder  in 
its  nature  and  essence.  As  the  acorn  is  the  oak.  the  seed  the 
tree,  all  it  wants  is  development.      At  this  tree  the  Christian 


96  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

religion  strikes  its  first  blow,  even  at  the  root,  by  the  godlike 
precept  forgive  "  from  the  heart  all  offences,  even  though 
repeated  seventy  times  seven  times." 

One  more  striking  event,  while  the  writer  remained  in  New 
Orleans,  will  be  given  before  closing  the  series. 

The  heartlessness  of  persons  given  to  the  pleasures  of  the 
world,  is  often  a  subject  of  just  animadversion  among  serious 
and  reflecting  Christians.  Yet  few  persons,  who  are  bred 
where  the  mild  precepts  of  the  gospel  have  long  influenced 
the  habits  of  society,  can  form  a  just  idea  of  the  hardness  of 
heart  among  those  who  have  given  the  rein  to  worldly-mind- 
edness,  and  made  a  god  of  dissipating  pleasures.  Without  the 
restraining  and  softening  effects  of  the  grace  of  God  through 
Jesus  Christ,  the  corrupted  nature  of  man  seems  to  stifle  the 
voice  even  of  instinct,  and  to  render  the  human  parent  less 
tender  than  the  brute  mother  to  her  young.  "  The  ox  know- 
eth  his  owner  and  the  ass  his  master's  crib;  but  Israel  doth 
not  know,  my  people  do  not  consider." 

While  we  lived  "down  the  coast,"  two  persons,  a  gentle- 
man and  a  lady,  of  genteel  appearance,  used  to  pass  in  their 

phaeton  back  and  forth  often  to  town.     It  was  Mr.  X and 

the  widow  of  his  deceased  brother.  Their  object  was  amuse- 
ment and  pleasure,  by  attending  public  balls,  the  theatre  and 
gaming-tables.  They  had  purchased  a  plantation  some  few 
miles  below  the  city,  hired  an  overseer,  and  left  it  to  its  own 
productiveness. 

In  the  course  of  the  summer,  the  writer  and  his  wife  were 
sent  for  to  visit  this  family  in  sickness.     The  mother  of  Mr. 

X was  suffering   from  the  effects  of  a  long-protracted 

fever,  evidently  much  neglected  by  her  son  and  daughter-in- 
law,  who  were  too  much  taken  up  with  the  amusements  of 
the  town  to  stay  at  their  retired  home,  and  minister  to  the 
necessities  of  their  venerable,  sick,  and  apparently  dying 
mother.  In  ordering  the  means  of  relief  to  this  aged  and  very 
worthy  woman,  a  female  slave  of  uncommon  comeliness  of 
person  and  tenderness  of  manner  was  observed.  There  were 
also  two  little  girls,  the  children  of  the  widow,  who  hung 
round  the  sick  bed  of  their  suffering  grandmother— the  eld- 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  97 

est  about  twelve  years  of  age,  and  of  attracting  sweetness. 
The  lady,  old  Mrs.  X ,  recovered  from  her  bed  of  sick- 
ness, and  the  painful  neglects  of  her  pleasure-seeking  son  and 
daughter  were  forgotten  and  banished  from  her  charitable 
heart. 

Nearly  a  year  after  this,  the  writer  was  sitting  in  his  study 
in  the  city,  in  Dauphin  street.  It  was  late  at  night,  and  all 
was  silent  as  if  gone  to  rest.  A  gentle  rap  was  heard  at  the 
door  of  the  study  which  communicated  with  the  street.  On 
opening  it  he  discovered  a  person,  poorly  clad  in  a  blanket 
great-coat,  standing  by  the  side  of  a  mule  attached  to  a  cart, 
all  covered  with  mud,  as  if  the  roads  had  been  very  bad  after 
a  long  rain.  The  first  word  uttered  was  mingled  with  sobs, 
and  evidently  from  a  female  breast,  no  stranger  to  grief. 
"  Who  are  you,  and  what  do  you  wish,  in  calling  here  with 
your  cart  at  this  time  of  t'he  night?"  The  poor  creature 
could  scarce  make  her  words  understood,  while  she  stated 

that  she  was  the  servant  of  Mr.  X ,  and  that  she  had  seen 

the  writer  when  her  mistress  was  sick — that  she  had  come  to 
town  with  the  corpse  of  her  dear  young  mistress,  which  was 
now  in  the  cart,  and  which  she  begged  the  writer  to  receive 
into  his  house  and  to  bury  in  the  morning — that  her  old  mis- 
tress had  been  left  alone,  and  her  grand-daughter,  her  dear, 
little  young  mistress,  had  died  in  her  arms — that  she  was 
now  too  ill  to  come  so  far  up  to  town  —  that,  being  left  by  her 
son  and  daughter,  she  had  no  other  way  bat  this  of  getting 
the  corpse  buried,  and  no  one  to  send  but  her — that  if  the 
writer  would  allow  her  to  carry  in  her  dead  young  mistress, 
she  would  be  very  thankful,  and  then  if  he  would  bury  her  in 
the  morning,  she  would  return  to  the  plantation,  where  she 
knew  her  old  mistress  would  be  waiting,  and  would  take  no 
rest  nor  victuals  till  she  came  home.  Here  the  sympathetic 
heart  of  the  poor  slave,  having  restrained  its  pent-up  feelings 
till  her  errand  was  done  and  her  petition  finished,  now 
allowed  her  the  luxury  of  bursting  into  a  llood  of  refreshing 
tears. 

It  mod  not  be  stated  what  was  said  and  done  in  answer  to 
all  this.  The  lifeless  corpse  of  that  innocent  young  person 
was  received  into  the  study  of  the  writer,  and  the  night  was 


98  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

spent  in  deep  reflection.  On  the  morrow  the  whole  school 
and  many  pious  neighbors  joined  in  a  procession  to  the  grave. 
In  going  thither,  and  while  the  earth  was  throwing  in  and 
covering  from  our  sight  the  remains  of  this  sweet  creature, 
the  writer  looked  around  for  her  mother  and  her  uncle,  but 
they  were  not  there :  the  world's  pleasures  had  unfitted  them 
for  a  scene  like  this.  No  one  but  a  poor  slave  negress  wept 
over  the  untimely  tomb  of  one  who,  if  cherished  by  Christian 
and  not  worldly-minded  parents,  might  have  lived  to  be  a 
blessing  to  her  family  and  friends. 

It  is  not  expected  that  this  plain  narrative  will  benefit  those 
who  are  already  launched  on  the  stream,  and  engaged  in  the 
whirl  around  the  vortex,  of  worldly  pleasure,  but  it  may  not 
be  useless  with  others.  Some  there  are,  especially  among  the 
young,  on  whom  this  story  may  have  its  influence.  God,  in 
his  mercy,  grant  that  it  may,  by  leading  them  to  avoid  the 
first  steps  to  that  heartless  character  here  exhibited — public 
balls,  theatres,  and  gambling-tables — and  cultivate  the  virtues 
which  grow  in  the  shades  of  domestic  retirement,  and  espe- 
cially a  meek  and  quiet  spirit,  which  is,  in  the  sight  of  God, 
of  great  price. 

No  other  incident  of  moment  is  recollected  to  have  occurred 
while  the  writer  lived  in  Dauphin  street,  except  a  severe 
attack  of  the  yellow  fever,  incident  to  that  climate,  from  the 
fatal  effects  of  which  he  believes  he  was  saved  by  a  free  use 
of  fixed  air  at  a  critical  period  of  the  disease.  This  was  not 
prescribed  by  his  physician,  nor  would  it  have  been  permitted 
by  his  family;  but  he  obtained  it  through  a  singular  concur- 
rence of  domestic  circumstances. 

The  fever  that  year  was  unusual  in  its  type,  and  very  fatal 
in  its  effects.  The  patients  died  mostly  at  the  eleventh  day, 
and  very  abruptly,  with  few  symptoms  of  approaching  disso- 
lution till  they  dropped  down  in  the  act  of  walking  from  the 
bed  to  the  couch,  or  in  adjusting  their  clothing.  A  number 
who  had  died  thus  suddenly  that  year  the  writer  had  con- 
signed to  the  grave.  It  was  not  then  strange,  that,  when  he 
himself  was  seized  with  the  same  complaint,  and  for  ten  days, 
in  painfulness  and  weariness,  had  suffered  its  effects,  he  should 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  99 

have  some  apprehensions  as  to  the  issue ;  especially  on  the 
eleventh  day,  when  he  began  to  experience  in  his  frame  a 
degree  of  lassitude  and  inward  sinking  of  spirits  never  before 
imagined.  At  the  time  of  dining  in  the  family,  the  writer  for 
a  few  minutes  was  left  alone ;  and  to  get  a  little  fresh  air  he 
had  made  out  to  crawl  from  his  bed-room  to  the  adjoining 
apartment,  where  was  a  sofa.  On  this  he  had  for  a  few  mo- 
ments reposed,  when  a  servant  came  in  for  a  bottle  of  porter 
from  a  locker. 

In  carrying  it  to  the  dining-room  he  had  to  pass  the  sofa, 
when  the  writer  sternly  bid  him  stop,  draw  a  cork  and  get  a 
tumbler.  This  was  instantly  obeyed  by  the  stupid  servant, 
without  thinking  that  it  was  his  duty  to  make  the  physician, 
or  his  mistress,  acquainted  with  so  dreadful  a  mandate.  No 
sooner  was  one  tumbler  emptied  than  another  was  commanded 
to  be  filled.  This  was  followed  by  the  most  singular  effects ; 
— feelings  the  most  exhilarated — appetite  the  most  keen  and 
voracious,  and  strength  to  walk  and  seek  something  to  eat. 
In  this  awkward  manner,  and  with  the  cadaverous  look  of  a 
dead  man,  the  writer  actually  entered  the  dining-room,  sat 
down,  and  partook  of  the  food  prepared  for  others.  The  whole 
family  were  agitated,  and  his  wife  in  tears.     A  friend,  Capt. 

W.  C ,  was  sent  for,  and  the  patient  led  to  bed.     The 

physician  also  came,  but  his  prescriptions  were  unnecessary. 
Balmy  sleep  had  the  undisturbed  possession  of  his  frame,  and 
when  the  patient  awoke  he  asked  for  more  porter. 

The  gentlemen  of  the  healing  art  may  make  what  use  they 
please  of  these  facts.  Being  correctly  stated,  perhaps  sonic 
good  may  be  deduced  from  them.  Through  the  kind  provi- 
dence of  God,  fixed  air  saved  the  life  of  the  writer ;  in  like 
circumstances  it  may  do  the  same  to  others. 

The  school  increasing,  and  the  consequent  want  of  room, 
caused  the  writer  to  hire  the  extensive  buildings  of  M.  La 
Branch,  situate  in  Tchoupitoulas  street,  then  on  the  Levee,  in 
the  Faubourg  St.  Mary,  for  the  rent  "I  which  he  paid  one 
thousand  dollars  per  annum.  Here  he  spent  some  of  the  most 
laborious,  yet  perhaps  the  most  useful  of  his  days.  While 
discharging  his  duty,  in  the  pulpit,  in  visiting  the  sick,  and  in 
burying  the  dead,  the  writer,  as  he  humbly  trusts,  was  laying 


100  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

the  foundation  of  a  Christian  and  virtuous  education  in  some 
of  the  best  families  in  New  Orleans  and  throughout  Louisiana. 
Should  any  of  his  pupils  ever  chance  to  cast  their  eyes  on  this 
little  book,  let  them  be  assured  that,  though  the  words  are 
written  with  a  hand  trembling  with  age,  his  heart  still  beats  for 
them  with  warm  affection,  and  his  prayers  still  ascend  to  the 
throne  of  Grace  for  blessings  on  them  and  their  offspring. 

In  recording  this  devout  wish,  fond  memory  goes  back  to 
the  last  sermon  which  the  writer  preached  in  New  Orleans. 
At  the  close  he  finds  this  address  to  his  beloved  pupils  and 
congregation.  Speaking  to  the  parents  of  his  scholars,  he 
said — 

"  You  will  allow  me  to  address  you  in  behalf  of  your  chil- 
dren with  that  sincerity  and  earnestness  which  become  one 
who  has  been  both  their  teacher  and  pastor.     If  there  is  one 
employment  more  eminently  calculated  to  endear  the  welfare 
of  youth  to  the  heart  of  man  than  another,  it  is  that  which  I 
have  enjoyed  here  among  you;  and  most  sincerely  can  I  say  it 
has  been  deeply  appreciated.     The  children  and  youth  of  this 
congregation  are  doubly  dear  to  me ;  and  when  I  look  round 
and  recognize  their  numerous  and  well-known  countenances, 
it  calls  to  my  mind  the  happy,  though  toilsome  days,  that  are 
past;  while  it  sheds  o'er  my  mind  a  chilling  sorrow  that  they 
are  so  past  as,  perhaps,  never  to  be  renewed  in  the  sober  con- 
nections of  riper  years.     The  only  thing  is  now  to  part  as  we 
should  do;  —  on  my  part,  certainly,  to  plead  with  becoming 
earnestness,  that  you  do  your  duty  towards  these   beloved 
objects  of   our   mutual   affections.      Formed  with   imitative 
natures,  they  want  something  now  of  a  commanding  charac- 
ter to  direct  them  in  the  path  of  life  — they  want  your  good 
example.    Inexperienced  as  they  are  amid  the  tempting  scenes 
of  a  wicked  world,  they  want  your  best  counsel ;  and  weak 
as  they  are  in  contending  with  the  enemies  of  their  salvation, 
they  want  your  constant  and  fervent  prayers.    For  these  they 
look  to  you,  and  all  these  they  require  at  your  hands.     The 
God  of  their  being,  their,  and  your,  Father  who  is  in  heaven, 
demands  the  discharge  of  these  duties  at  your  hands,  and  for 
a  neglect  thereof  he  will  bring  you  to  an  awful  account.     If 
you,  by  slighting  your  children's  education,  be  the  cause  of 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  101 

their  final  misery,  you  know  the  penalty — none  other  than 
unutterable  woe. 

"  I  have  now  a  few  words  to  them,  even  to  you  my  beloved 
pupils,  and  others  who  have  been  accustomed  to  listen  to  my 
instructions.  Sweet  have  been  the  hours  I  have  passed  with 
you,  and  grateful  is  my  remembrance  of  them.  Many  of  you 
have  waxed  strong,  and  come  from  childhood  to  youth,  and 
from  youth  to  maturity,  under  my  care  since  in  this  place. 
During  this  period  I  call  you  to  witness  how  often  and  how 
earnestly  I  have  exhorted  you  to  your  duties  of  piety  to  God 
and  good  will  towards  men.  Let  the  recollection  of  these 
instructions  come  often  to  your  minds.  So  far  as  you  find 
them  to  accord  with  the  sacred  word  of  God,  let  them  be 
imprinted  on  your  hearts — bear  you  company  in  your  walks 
by  day,  and  follow  you  to  your  pillow  by  night.  Remember 
the  sum  and  substance  of  your  instructions,  that  religion  is 
the  chief  thing ;  that  to  this  the  acquisition  of  every  branch 
of  science  should  aim,  and  that  without  this  the  wisest  man, 
in  the  eye  of  his  Maker,  is  but  a  fool.  Thus  will  you  become 
ornaments  of  your  day  and  generation — models  for  others  to 
imitate,  and  happy  when  your  days  shall  have  terminated. 
So  to  do  and  so  to  be  rewarded,  may  God  grant  you  a  double 
portion  of  his  spirit  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 

11  It  now  remains  that  I  say  to  this  congregation  in  general, 
what  I  may  never  have  the  opportunity  again  to  say  — 
'■Finally,  my  brethren,  farewell:  I  go  from  you;  but. 
wherever  I  am,  I  shall  remember,  to  my  dying  day,  your 
many  instances  of  kindness  to  me.  May  God  reward  you 
with  his  choicest  blessings.  May  he  build  up  the  walls  6f 
Jerusalem  which  his  own  right  hand  hath  planted  here.  May 
he  people  this  city  with  Israelites  indeed;  so  that  when  the 
great  day  of  accounts  shall  come,  many  who  come  from  hence 
may  go  into  a  state  of  blessedness." 

Tims  closed  the  last  scene  of  the  writer's  official  duties  in 
New  Orleans.  The  chief  cause  of  his  returning  to  the  north 
was  the  imperious  duty  of  educating  his  sons  left  in  New 

England  :  and  it  was  not  among  the  least  of  his  most  pleasing 
reflections,  that  the  pecuniary  competency  to  this  end  had 
been  obtained   by  a  faithful  discharge  of  his  duty  in  teaching 

9* 


102  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

others.  How  the  means  he  had  acquired  were  afterwards 
employed  in  educating  his  sons,  in  trying  to  build  up  the 
Church  of  the  Redeemer,  and  in  seeking  the  sheep  of  his  flock 
in  the  wilderness,  will,  if  God  permit,  be  related  hereafter  in 
these  humble  Reminiscences. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

"he  begun  it,"  or  the  story  of  the  boy  and  the  looking- 
glass RETURNS  TO  VERMONT STATE  OF  THE  CHURCH 

REMOVES    TO    HARTFORD BISHOP    JARVIS ANECDOTE    OF    BISHOP 

SEABURY  —  DAYS    OF    SUNSHINE. 

It  will  be  recollected  that  the  writer  of  these  pages  spent  a 
great  part  of  his  time  in  Poughkeepsie  and  New  Orleans  in 
teaching  and  in  training  youth  in  the  paths  of  religion  and 
morality,  as  well  as  in  those  of  natural  and  literary  science. 
In  the  performance  of  this  arduous  duty,  he  found  no  greater 
impediment  than  the  pernicious  and  obstinate  habit  of  self- 
justification,  into  which  boys  are  very  apt  to  fall  during  the 
period  of  social  intercourse.  Man,  having  sinned  and  his 
nature  prone  to  evil,  it  cannot  be  but  that  offences  will  come, 
and  difficulties  will  arise  among  boys.  They  will  think  dif- 
ferently and  act  differently,  and  often  will  they  cross  each 
other's  path,  and  be  betrayed  by  the  force  of  passion  into 
words  and  actions  of  violence  and  injustice,  which  need  the 
correcting  hand  of  a  faithful  and  conscientious  teacher.  If  in 
such  cases  the  writer  could  be  so  happy  as  to  bring  the  belli- 
gerents to  self-examination,  and  to  avoid  all  words  of  recrimi- 
nation, the  wound  was  soon  healed ;  better  feelings  immedi- 
ately took  the  place  of  angry  passions,  and  all  was  peace 
again.  But  this  frequently  was  prevented  by  that  insur- 
mountable spirit  of  self-justification  already  mentioned.  The 
boy  had  been  taught  from  his  nurse's  arms  to  show  a  proper 
spirit,  (as  it  is  improperly  termed,)  to  contend  for  his  own 
interests,  unmindful  of  the  rights  of  others,  and  to  justify 
himself  by  saying,  "I  did  not  begin  it." 

"  Why  did  you  strike  your  companion,  as  I  saw  you  do  this 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  103 

day?"  would  the  teacher  demand.  "By  your  superior 
strength  or  skill,  you  have  injured  his  person  and  wounded 
his  feelings."  "  He  begun  it,  sir;  I  was  but  contending  in 
self-defence.  My  father  always  told  me  that,  though  he  forbid 
me  to  begin  a  quarrel,  yet  I  must  always  fight  when  insulted. 
In  this  case,  '  he  begun  it,  sir.' "  On  examination,  it  was 
usually  found  that  this  beginning  of  a  quarrel  was,  at  least,  a 
matter  of  extreme  uncertainty.  The  boy  making  observations 
similar  to  the  above  was  oftener  to  blame  than  otherwise. 
Some  rough,  unkind  behavior,  or  angry  look,  or  contemptuous 
word,  was  manifested,  and  this  it  was  that  "begun  it"  —  that 
struck  from  the  flinty  heart  of  human  nature  the  fire  of  resent- 
ment. 

To  cure  this  evil,  so  difficult  of  detection  and  so  hard  to 
remedy,  the  writer  had  recourse  to  various  methods,  but  found 
none  more  efficacious  than  the  following.  Recollecting  to 
have  read  in  the  French  language  a  short  story  of  similar 
character,  he  used  from  time  to  time  to  call  his  pupils  together 
and  relate  as  follows. 

In  the  olden  days,  when  kings  kept  their  chief  ministers  of 
state  closely  confined  to  their  duty,  there  lived,  in  the  city  of 
Paris,  a  worthy  nobleman,  who  might  be  justly  styled  the 
pillar  of  the  throne.  So  necessary  were  his  wise  counsels, 
that  the  sovereign  would  not  allow  his  absence  from  the  post 
of  duty,  not  even  for  a  sufficient  time  to  recruit  his  own  or 
promote  his  family's  health.  He  must  be  always  in  Paris,  or 
the  affairs  of  the  nation  would  suffer. 

The  consequence  of  this  confinement  within  the  walls  of  a 
densely  populated  city  was,  that  the  French  nobleman  and 
lady  were  so  unhappy  as  to  lose  in  early  life  several  promising 
children.  Thus  situated,  with  what  painful  feelings  would 
they  compare  their  unhappy  lot  with  that  class  of  people  liv- 
ing in  the  country,  who  could  bring  up  their  children  in  the 
full  enjoyment  of  pure  air  and  wholesome  exercise,  and  thus 
secure  the  lives  and  promote  the  health  of  their  offspring. 
The   lady,  as  they  were  riding   in  the   neighborhood   of  the 

metropolis,  would  exclaim,  "O  that  we  could  have  one  son, 

of  a  well-established   natural    frame.  strom:   and   athletic,  like 

one  of  these  children  of  the  poor  hut  laboring  people  ! '      Mfon- 


104  BISHOP   chase's    reminiscences. 

seigneur  would  reply — "We  might  doubtless  be  so  blessed, 
if  we  could  do  as  these  poor  people  do,— bring  up  our  offspring 
in  the  country,  and  feed  them  on  coarse  food,  as  they  do,  and 
give  them  the  like  exercise." 

Such  suggestions  were  not  lost  on  the  ear  of  an  anxious 
mother.  After  mature  and  mutual  consultation,  this  worthy 
pair,  "  Monseignear  et  Madame  sa  femme,"  agreed  that, 
should  it  please  God  to  bless  them  with  another  son,  they 
would  give  him  the  inestimable  blessings  and  advantages  just 
mentioned.  In  good  time  their  prayers  were  answered ;  a  fine 
son  was  born,  and  having  previously  prepared  a  place  for  his 
immediate  retreat  from  the  city,  they  consigned  him  to  the 
care  of  a  poor  but  faithful  nurse  and  her  honest  husband,  both 
the  inmates  of  a  mud-walled  cottage,  or  rather  hovel,  with  no 
article  of  furniture  except  that  which  was  absolutely  necessary 
to  prepare  the  simplest  food ;  no  mirror  on  the  walls  to  feed 
the  vanity,  and  no  beds  but  straw  to  rest  the  limbs  of  these 
poor  but  healthy  and  happy  people. 

Such  were  they  who  were  chosen  to  nurture  for  a  time,  as 
they  would  their  own,  the  child  of  the  Prime  Minister  of 
France.  And  faithful  were  they  to  the  injunctions  given; 
they  gave  him  only  of  their  homely  fare, — coarse  food,  and 
hard  but  clean  and  healthy  beds. 

It  was  agreed  that  the  parents  should  be  unknown  to  the 
child,  although  their  eyes  were  necessarily  on  him,  till  he 
grew  to  the  age  of  ten  years,  when,  having  secured  what  they 
deemed  the  first  great  object,— the  robust  constitution  of  their 
child,  —they  could  take  him  home  and  begin  to  form  his  moral 
character.  Little  did  they  think  that  this  moral  character 
germinates  in  infancy,  and  grows  with  our  growth  and 
strengthens  with  our  strength,  and  that  it  is  already  formed 
ere  the  child  comes  to  the  age  of  ten  years ;  but  this  remark 
is  digressing  from  the  story.  The  child  grew  and  waxed 
strong;  and  in  this  respect  the  fondest  wishes  of  the  parents 
were  gratified.  The  pure  air  and  the  constant  exercise  which 
the  boy  found  in  playing  with  the  boys  in  the  vicinity  gave 
great  vigor  to  his  constitution,  and,  what  might  be  expected, 
his  mental  frame  did  not  lag  behind. 

As  the  arm  grew  strong,  the  passions  grew  violent ;  and  as 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  105 

no  restrictions  by  order  of  the  parents  had  been  laid  on  the 
latter,  these  wielded  the  former  to  the  great  annoyance  of  the 
whole  neighborhood  of  boys.  The  foster-father,  for  decency's 
sake,  was  allowed  the  privilege  to  check  the  young  lord 
whenever  he  commenced  a  quarrel,  but  strictly  enjoined  not 
to  interfere  when  he  fought  in  self-defence.  To  a  discerning 
mind  the  result  was  easily  visible.  The  boy  had  but  to  fancy 
himself  insulted,  and  a  quarrel  was  sure  to  follow.  No  altera- 
tion, however,  could  be  made,  unless  the  principles  of  action 
were  changed.  The  boy  would  listen  to  no  remonstrances. 
He  had  been  taught,  as  a  first  principle,  that  if  the  boys 
"  begun  it,"  he  must  fight;  and  that  they  did  begin  it  he  was 
always  sure,  not  reflecting  that  the  very  principle  is  the  germ 
of  all  quarrels,  and  brings  an  everlasting  curse  in  its  train. 

But  the  time  came  which  was  to  behold  this  promising 
youth  removed  from  the  mud  hovel  to  the  splendid  parlor. 
The  lad  knew  nothing,  nor  had  dreamed,  of  his  real  parents. 
All  his  love  and  tender  regards  had  centred  on  his  foster 
parents  ;  —  to  them  he  had  been  accustomed  to  flee  in  all  his 
little  troubles,  and  into  their  bosom  he  had  poured  his  sorrows, 
and  by  their  soothing  words  had  he  every  day  been  laid  to 
rest  on  the  hard  floor  of  their  humble  dwelling.  This  event, 
the  cooling  off  of  his  perturbed  passions,  had  generally  taken 
place  at  the  close  of  his  mid-day  meal ;  of  course  there  would 
be  abundance  of  time  to  remove  him  while  sleeping,  before 
night,  to  his  father's  house. 

The  soft  cushions  received  him  as  the  strong  arm  of  his 
foster  father  and  mother  bore  him  from  the  straw  couch  and 
mud-built  cottage  to  the  splendid  chariot  of  his  noble  father. 
Monseigneur  was  standing  by  while  this  most  interesting 
event  took  place.  How  did  his  heart  swell  with  exultation, 
when  beholding  the  flushed  cheek  and  blooming  countenance 
of  his  sleeping  child,  the  heir  of  his  honors  and  vast  estates, 
and  now,  for  the  first  time,  in  the  gold-glittering  carriage  of 
Ins  ancestors!  "Enter  with  him,"  said  Monseigneur  to  the 
huinhlc  foster-father,  "enter  and  take  care  of  him,  for  if  he 
should  awake  none  can  pacify  him  but  yourself"     They  pro- 

eded  slowly  and  Bilently  towards  the  mansion. 

The  French  have,  from  earliest  years  of  the  arts,  been  cele- 


106  BISHOP   chase's   reminiscences. 

brated  for  their  taste  in  furnishing  houses  with  the  best  and 
loftiest  mirrors ;  and  although  at  that  period  they  had  not 
attained  the  extravagance  of  the  present  day,  yet  seldom,  even 
then,  an  extensive  drawing-room  in  Paris  but  had  its  pier- 
glass  reaching  from  the  floor  to  the  lofty  ceiling.  It  commonly 
stood  upright,  i.  e.,  precisely  perpendicular  and  at  right  angles 
with  a  level  floor,  so  that  those  in  the  room  saw  themselves 
reflected  exactly  as  they  were,  in  their  relative  position,  either 
standing,  walking,  or  any  other  gesticulation  of  the  frame  or 
expression  of  the  countenance. 

Into  such  a  parlor,  furnished  with  one  large  pier-glass  of 
this  kind,  was  the  young  nobleman  introduced,  and  laid  sleep- 
ing on  the  rich  tapis.  His  figure  for  his  years  indicated  great 
strength,  and  his  countenance,  sending  forth  evidences  of  the 
most  perfect  health,  and  his  whole  frame,  clad  as  it  was  in 
the  coarsest  manner,  afforded  the  most  striking  contrast  with 
all  about  him.  There  he  lay,  sleeping  sweetly  as  he  used  to 
do  in  the  mud  hut  of  the  poor  man.  How  interesting  the 
spectacle!  Even  to  indifferent  eyes,  most  engaging  sight! 
For  what  heart  is  there  but  must  be  affected  at  the  sight  of 
youth,  strength  and  beauty,  we  would  say  also  innocence ! 
But  can  we  do  this  of  our  corrupt  nature  till  it  shall  have 
become,  in  some  measure,  renewed  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  through 
the  atonement  of  Him  who  hath  purchased  us  by  his  blood? 
Can  we  say  this  till  our  passions  shall  have  been  subdued ; 
till  our  natural  branches  shall  have  been  cut  away  by  the 
hand  of  salutary  discipline,  and  the  pure  word  of  God  grafted 
in  our  hearts,  that  the  fruits  of  a  holy  life  may  manifest  our 
union  with  him  who  only  is  our  righteousness  ? 

That  this  young  nobleman  had,  by  a  neglect  of  his  education 
in  the  particular  mentioned,  remained  in  an  unrenewed  state 
and  in  no  wise  prepared,  even  as  such  young  persons  ought 
to  be  prepared,  to  commence  a  Christian  life,  by  self-examina- 
tion, and  self-control,  and  self-denial  —  by  the  exercise  of  mod- 
esty and  submission  to  the  laws  of  equity  and  justice  —  in  a 
word,  that  the  boy  was  blind  to  the  rights  of  others  and  alive 
only  to  the  base  principle  of  selfishness,  and  thus  a  fit  candi- 
date for  ruin,  may  be  seen  by  the  sequel  of  his  history. 

It  was  an  innocent  curiosity  in  the  parents  and  other  friends 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  107 

of  this  youth,  to  have  a  desire  to  witness  the  effect  of  surprise 
which  he  must  experience  in  the  sudden  transition  from  a 
hovel  to  a  palace.  It  was  feared,  and  perhaps  justly,  that,  on 
finding  himself  in  company  with  persons  so  different  from 
himself  in  dress  and  manners,  his  mind,  at  least  his  self-com- 
mand, would  give  way,  and  that  he  might  resign  himself  to 
immoderate  weeping,  or  mad  resistance.  Accordingly  the 
poor  man,  his  foster-father,  was  invited  to  linger  on  the  place, 
and  he  one  of  the  watchmen  at  the  doors  and  private 
entrances  of  the  room  where  lay  the  sleeping  boy.  At  this 
critical  moment  all  was  silence  and  deep  attention  throughout 
the  mansion ;  every  ear  was  listening  to  catch  what  would  be 
the  first  waking  words  of  the  lad  of  noble  blood. 

As  he  opened  his  eyes  he  was  observed  by  the  watchers 
suddenly  to  turn  himself  and  then  jump  upon  his  feet.  In 
doing  this  he  caught  a  glimpse  of  his  own  figure  in  the  glass ! 
It  resembled  in  dress  and  manners  the  boys  of  his  own  neigh- 
borhood with  whom  he  had  been  accustomed  to  play.  He 
accosted  it  in  terms  of  familiar  parlance,  and  then  stepped 
forward  for  more  intimate  intercourse.  As  he  did  this  he 
smiled,  and  the  figure  smiled.  He  continued  therefore  to 
advance,  and  the  figure,  as  if  to  meet  his  advances  at  ac- 
quaintance, came  also  forward.  At  this  the  thought  struck 
him,  that  there  were  evidences  of  too  great  liberties  with 
a  person  of  his  well-known  character  for  prowess  and  con- 
sequence, and  as  this  thought  prevailed,  he  stopped  to  put 
himself  on  his  guard.  While  he  did  this  he  looked  the  figure 
full  in  the  face,  and  saw  evident  marks  of  displeasure  and 
contempt.  He  turned  to  go  away  himself;  but  as  he  did  so, 
he  saw  the  figure  look  so  insultingly  and  contemptuously,  that 
his  whole  frame  was  pierced  with  feelings  of  just  resentment. 
I  am  insulted,  said  he  to  himself,  and  my  honor  demands  that 
I  fight  him  in  self-defence.  At  this  he  turned  again  on  the 
figure,  who  was  prepared  with  dreadful  looks  and  gestures  to 
meet  him  blow  for  blow.  They  flew  together  in  utmost 
violence.  The  mirror  was  broken  into  many  pieces,  and 
coming  down  from  the  wall  in  fragments,  buried  the  young 
nobleman  under  its  ruins.  At  this  he  screamed  immoder- 
ately, and   all   the   family,  rushing  in  to  his  relief,  saw  the 


108  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

weeping,  spoiled  child  fly  into  the  bosom  of  his  fond  and 
sympathizing  foster-father,  and  as  he  did  so,  vociferating 
again  and  again,  "  He  begun  it ! "  "He  begun  it ! " 


RETURNS     TO    VERMONT STATE    OF    THE    CHURCH  —  REMOVES    TO 

HARTFORD. 

The  parental  bosom  alone  can  duly  appreciate  the  pleasure 
of  meeting  and  embracing  two  lovely  sons,  after  a  separation 
of  more  than  six  years.  These,  George  and  Philander,  were 
at  school  in  Randolph,  Vermont,  under  the  guardian  care  and 
hospitable  roof  of  their  beloved  uncle,  Dudley  Chase,  and  in 
the  neighborhood  of  their  other  dear  relatives  in  Bethel.  Here 
their  fond  parents  found  them,  and  enjoyed  the  luxury  of 
beholding  their  growth  of  stature  and  improvement  of  mind. 

This  meeting  was  in  the  summer  of  1811,  and  would  have 
been  without  alloy,  but  for  the  melancholy  consequences  of 
their  having  been  necessarily  deprived  of  the  advantages 
which  the  Episcopal  Church,  in  all  her  primitive  ordinances, 
affords  to  the  young.  No  one  can  estimate  these  but  they 
who  know  them  by  contrast. 

In  Randolph  there  was  no  semblance  of  an  Episcopal  com- 
munion, which,  by  reading  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  rightly 
divided  from  the  beginning  of  the  year  to  the  end  thereof, 
might  imbue  the  minds  of  the  youth  with  heavenly  knowl- 
edge ;  and  in  Bethel  they  had,  as  yet,  no  settled  shepherd  to 
feed  the  little  flock.  The  result  was  obvious:  the  young 
lambs  of  Christ's  fold  were  neglected,  and  suffered  to  wander 
in  strange  pastures,  and  become  the  prey  of  infidels  who 
always  stand  ready  to  devour. 

This  general  ignorance  among  the  younger  classes  of 
society  was  seized  on  by  various  classes  of  infidels  in  Ver- 
mont, and  great  was  their  success  about  the  period  in  which 
the  writer  arrived  from  the  south,  —  1811.  They  concealed 
their  designs  with  the  cloak  of  great  zeal,  and  were  observed 
to  effect  their  purpose  by  means  quite  incongruous. 

Nothing  could  be  more  distressing  to  the  writer  than  to  find 
they  had  gained  over  to  them  some  of  those  whom,  when  vis- 
iting Vermont  since  in  orders,  he  had  baptized  unto  the  faith 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  109 

and  Church  of  God.     A  melancholy  instance  of  the  danger  of 
leaving  the  lambs  of  Christ  among  wolves. 

The  writer  spent  several  weeks  in  Bethel,  where  he  had 
passed  so  many  of  his  juvenile  days  —  where  he  had  kept 
school,  and  read  prayers,  and  at  times  had  subsequently  vis- 
ited and  preached  to  the  faithful  few  of  his  relatives  and 
friends.  Most  gladly  would  he  have  settled  here,  and  here 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  But  a  strong  desire  to  give 
his  sons  the  opportunity  of  a  more  public  education,  and  above 
all  to  remove  them  at  once  from  the  sight  and  influence  of  the 
persons  above  alluded  to,  forbade  the  thought  of  remaining  in 
Vermont. 

He  had  heard  of  the  academy  in  Cheshire,  in  Connecticut, 
and  of  its  excellent  teacher,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Tillotson  Bronson. 
Thither,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  sons,  the  writer  bent 
his  course,  and  there  he  found  the  venerable  man  among  his 
boys  and  books,  instructing  the  former,  and  with  his  face 
literally  hi  the  latter,  for  he  was  very  near-sighted.  A  house 
was  hired,  the  furniture  purchased,  the  family  settled,  and  the 
boys  were  placed  at  school,  under  a  teacher,  pious  without 
fanaticism,  learned  without  pedantry,  strict  and  primitive 
without  bigotry,  and  withal  an  "honest,  upright  man,  who 
feared  Cod  and  eschewed  evil." 

Thus  circumstanced,  the  winter  was  passed  by  the  family 
most  agreeably,  while  the  writer  spent  most  of  his  Sundays  in 
Hartford,  in  which  city  he  was  invited  by  the  Wardens  and 
Vestry  of  Christ  Church  to  settle.  He  remembers  that,  during 
the  residence  of  his  family  in  the  peaceful  village  of  Cheshire, 
and  before  he  had  agreed  to  accept  the  invitation  to  the  city 
of  Hartford,  he  found  himself  inclined  often  to  ride  down  to 
the  beautiful  city  of  New  Haven,  the  residence  of  the  right 
reverend,  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese.  This  worthy  prelate 
li.'i'l  from  the  first  welcomed  the  writer  to  his  Diocese,  and 
invited  him  to  become  one  of  his  presbyters;  and  seldom  did 
lie  come  to  town  without  an  ivitation  to  stay  a  while  and  share 
the  hospitality  and  company  of  himself  and  his  accomplished 
lady. 

10 


110  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

btshop  jarvis anecdote  of  bishop  seabury. 

Few  persons  told  a  more  appropriate  and  instructive  anec- 
dote than  Bishop  Jarvis ;  and  although  his  stories  were  long 
in  telling,  yet  they  were  always  good  at  last,  so  that  you  had 
but  to  be  patient  in  order  to  be  highly  gratified  in  the  end. 
What  was,  in  the  view  of  correct  persons,  truly  estimable,  his 
anecdotes  were  all  true  in  point  of  fact  and  never  partook  of 
romance.  They  might  be  said  to  be  historical  and  biographi- 
cal sketches ;  and  when  these  afforded  matter  of  instruction, 
or  when  they  illustrated  truths  that  had  begun  to  fall  into 
disuse,  they  seldom  passed  his  observing  eye  without  com- 
ment ;  and  should  the  gems  of  wit  and  humor  be  scattered  in 
the  path  of  his  story,  he  was  sure  to  enjoy,  with  the  listener, 
the  hearty  concluding  laugh. 

There  was  one  thing  of  more  than  ordinary  attraction  in  an 
acquaintance  with  good  Bishop  Jarvis.     This  was,  the  fact 
of  his  having  been  intimate  with  Bishop  Seabury,  the  first 
American  prelate,  and  his  immediate  predecessor  in  the  Epis- 
copate of  Connecticut.     Great  was  the  privilege  to  have  been 
an  eye-witness  of  the  good  deeds  of  him  who  had  connected 
the  Apostolic   Church   of  God   in   the  old   and   new    world 
together.      This   blessing   Bishop   Jarvis   enjoyed   for   many 
years,  and  it  was  from  the  lips  of  the  latter  many  things  were 
learned  concerning  the  sentiments  and  character  of  the  former, 
of  great  value  to  the  true  sons  of  the  Church.     In  grave  his- 
tory all  does  not  appear  which  is  truly  interesting  to  men  of 
taste,  in  perusing,  at  this  late  day,  the  life  of  such  a  man  and 
so  situated  as  was  Bishop  Seabury.     A  man  that  would  do  as 
he  did,  — alone  and  at  the  hazard  of  all  his  substance,  and 
even  of  life  itself,  go  in  search  of  "that  good  thing'7  which, 
however  overlooked  by  others,  "he  believed  Christ  gave  to  his 
Apostles,  and  they  to  their  successors  the  Bishops,  with  which 
was  the  promise  of  Divine  presence  to  the  end  of  the  world" 
—  must  have  a  mind  of  no  common  cast;  a  faith  he  must 
have  had  in  God's  word  which  few  possess;  and  knowing 
and  appreciating  all  this,  the  Church  in  Connecticut  regards 
the  name  of  Seabury,  as  the  Syrian  Christians,  whom  Dr. 
Buchanan  found  in  India,  regarded  the  name  of  St.  Thomas, 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  Ill 

the  Apostle  by  whom  their  Church  was  founded,  and  to  whom 
their  Bishops  counted  their  succession.  Everything  relating 
to  such  characters  was  precious  as  the  diamond  rings  from  the 
fingers  of  deceased  parents.  Not  only  the  intrinsic  value,  but 
the  shape  and  the  traditionary  manner  of  wearing  it,  was 
treasured  in  the  memory. 

Something  like  this  feeling  of  veneration  for  the  memory  of 
the  first  Bishop  of  Connecticut  pervaded  the  breast  of  the 
writer,  when  he  begged  of  Bishop  Jarvis  to  relate  to  him  the 
sayings  and  doings  of  Bishop  Seabury.  How  did  he  bear 
himself  as  he  stepped  on  the  shore  of  his  dear  native  land, 
clad  in  the  vestments  of  the  first  American  Bishop?  How 
did  his  own  brethren  and  those  of  other  denominations  receive 
him?  What  did  he  say,  and  what  did  they  say  and  do  to 
him? 

"As  to  that  matter,"  said  the  good  Bishop  Jarvis,  "be- 
sides what  is  already  in  print,  (and  precious  little,  for  some 
reason  or  another,  has  been  brought  before  the  public,  much 
less  than  the  subject  demands,)  I  happen  to  know  some  things 
(not  exactly  from  the  mouth  of  my  venerable  Diocesan,  for 
he  would  be  the  last  to  speak  in  commendation  of  himself) 
which  seem  to  afford  an  answer  to  your  question,  quite  satis- 
factory. One  anecdote  will  illustrate  the  whole  subject.  The 
dramatis  personam  are  few,  but  of  great  importance.  Their 
names  are  Mather  Byles,  the  head  of  the  Congregational 
clergy  in  Massachusetts  and  New  England ;  Dr.  Parker,  rector 
of  Trinity  Church,  Boston ;  and  our  then  newly  come  over 
Bishop  Seabury. 

"Bishop  S.  had  been  consecrated  (as  it  was  supposed  by 
those  who  knew  not  the  particulars)  for  all  New  England. 
It  was  well  known  by  some  intelligent  ministers  of  the  Con- 
gregationalists,  that  the  Bishop  claimed, jure  diri/iu,  the  apos- 
tolic commission  to  ordain  the  ministers  of  Christ.  The  con- 
tusion was,  that  if  he  were  right  they  were  wrong;  and  as 
mon  are  generally  unwilling  to  own  themselves  in  an  error, 
no  small  opposition  was  raised  against  good  Bishop  Seabury. 
Among  the  rest  who  felt  tin-  pains  which  this  mode  of  ques- 
tioning the  validity  of  ( 'on^rotiatioiial  orders  had  inflicted, 
was  the  Rev.  Mather  Byles.  of  Boston,  a  man  of  extraordinary 


112  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

wit  and  learning.  He  said  within  himself,  (as  he  afterwards 
owned,)  if  this  Bishop  Seabury  prevail,  the  Congregational 
clergy  are  virtually  denied  to  be  regularly  ordained  ministers. 
What  then  shall  be  done?  Bishop  S.  will  not  ordain  us 
unless  we  all  be  qualified  as  he  shall  think  fit,  and  unless  we 
all  agree  to  use  the  liturgy  of  the  Church,  or  something  like  it. 
Now,  however  this  might  suit  some,  yet  all  will  not  be  satis- 
fied. Can  I  not  get  this  Bishop  at  once  to  acknowledge  the 
validity  of  Congregational  orders?  Though  our  power  as 
ministers,  according  to  our  platform,  did  come  from  the 
people,  yet  if  a  Bishop  sanction  it,  who  shall  say  it  may  not 
do? 

"Not  many  months  elapsed  before  the  projector  of  this 
scheme  had,  as  he  thought,  a  fair  opportunity  of  trying  its 
efficacy.  Bishop  Seabury,  it  was  at  length  announced,  had 
arrived  in  town,  and  been  received  with  respect  by  Dr.  Parker 
and  all  his  numerous  and  respectable  congregation,  and  that 
of  Christ  Church,  founded  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Cutler,  once  the 
president  of  Yale  College,  then  converted  to  Episcopacy. 
Under  such  circumstances  had  Bishop  S.  come  to  Boston. 
1  And  he  shall  not  be  in  this  great  city  without  knowing  that 
there  is  such  a  person  living  in  it  as  the  Rev.  Mather  Byles,' 
said  the  same  gentleman :  '  and  I  will  so  contrive  as  to  make 
this  prelate,  clad  with  all  authority  as  he  is,  acknowledge,  in 
"scriptural  language,"  the  validity  of  all  the  New  England 
ministry.  I  will  make  him  give  me  the  "right  hand  of  fel- 
lowship," which  will  be  all  we  want!' 

"The  day  was  fine,  and  Bishop  Seabury,  the  cherished 
guest  of  Dr.  Parker,  was  dining  at  his  hospitable  board  with 
several  of  the  worthy  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
when  there  came  a  man  with  a  note  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Byles, 
and  desired  to  see  Bishop  Seabury.  The  note  he  would 
deliver  into  no  one's  hands  but  the  Bishop's.  Accordingly, 
pressing  forward,  he  entered  the  dining-room,  and  held  up  his 
paper,  a  large  respectful  letter,  on  which  was  written,  'To 
the  Rt.  Rev.  Father  in  God,  Samuel,  Bishop  of  all  New 
England.'  '  The  handwriting,'  said  Dr.  Parker,  '  is  that  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Byles,  a  Congregational  minister  of  this  city.  I 
have  ever  treated  this  gentleman  well,  and  am  surprised  he 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  113 

should  take  this  opportunity  to  play  off  his  wit  upon  my  ven- 
erated friend  and  guest.'  'What's  the  matter?'  said  the 
Bishop.  '  The  matter  is/  said  Dr.  P.,  '  that  Mr.  Byles,  hear- 
ing you  have  arrived  in  Boston,  wishes  to  "bring  the  Episcopal 
office  which  you  fill  into  ridicule,  by  holding  up  to  contempt 
the  title  which  is  given  to  the  Bishops  of  an  established 
church,  by  applying  it  in  a  country  where  there  is  no  such 
establishment  and  no  such  pretensions;  in  short,  Mr.  Byles 
means  the  whole  as  a  quiz,  and  I  am  extremely  sorry  for  it.' 

"  '  Quiz  ! '  said  the  Bishop ;  '  is  there  a  man  in  Boston  who 
would  quiz  Samuel  Seabury  ]  Let  us  break  the  seal  and  see 
what  are  the  contents  of  this  letter.'  So  saying,  the  note  was 
opened  and  found  to  contain  nothing  more  nor  less  than  a 
most  respectful  invitation  of  Bishop  Seabury  and  Dr.  Parker 
to  tea  that  afternoon,  at  a  stated  hour,  and  concluded  by 
observing,  that  there  was  a  particular  wish  for  a  favorable 
answer,  as  Mr.  Byles  had  something  of  great  importance  to 
communicate  to  the  Bishop.  '  Is  there  any  quizzing  in  this?' 
said  Bishop  S.  'You'll  see,'  said  Dr.  P.  'Tell  Mr.  Byles,' 
said  the  Bishop  to  the  messenger,  '  tell  Mr.  Byles  that  Bishop 
Seabury  will  wait  on  him  according  to  the  tenor  of  his  note.' 
'I'll  go  too,'  said  the  Doctor;  'tell  him  that  Dr.  Parker  will 
also  come.' 

"  This  affair  somewhat  interrupted  the  train  of  conversa- 
tion at  the  table,  but  in  so  doing,  it  put  the  Bishop  in  posses- 
sion of  some  traits  in  Mr.  Byles'  history  which  he  never  could 
forget.  But  no  one  at  the  board  could  conjecture  what  that 
particular  reason  was  which  Mr.  B.  expressed  in  his  note,  for 
which  he  begged  so  earnestly  that  the  Bishop  would  come  and 
see  him. 

"The  time  soon  came,  when  both  the  Bishop  and  Dr.  P. 
commenced  their  walk  to  Mr.  Byles'.  The  yard,  through 
which  they  were  to  pass  to  his  house,  was  enclosed  by  a  tight 
board  fence,  and  the  gate  was  of  the  same  nature,  so  that 
when  the  strangers  drew  nigh  the  house,  they  saw  nothing  of 
the  host  till  the  gate  was  thrown  open,  which  happened  just 
as  they  came  to  it.  On  entering  the  yard  they  discovered  Mr. 
Byles,  dressed  after  his  best  manner,  with  his  bands  on,  at 
some  distance  from  them,  in  the  attitudes  of  gieftl    formality, 

10* 


114  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

making  his  obeisance  at  every  step.  His  bows  were  so  formal 
as  to  require  more  time  than  to  allow  him  to  meet  his  guests 
half  way  from  the  house  to  the  gate ;  so  that  they  had  well- 
nigh  reached  his  door-step  before  he  began  to  speak  ;  and 
when  his  mouth  was  open,  from  it  proceeded  the  most  pom- 
pous words.  Raising  his  head,  and  looking  the  Bishop  full  in 
the  face,  he  said,  '  Rt  Rev.  Father  in  God,  Samuel,  Bishop 
of  all  New  England,  I,  Mather  Byles,  as  the  representative 
of  all  the  clergy  of  the  Congregational  Churches  in  Massachu- 
setts Bay,  and  other  places,  bid  thee  a  hearty  welcome  to  Bos- 
ton, and  give  thee,  and  hope  to  receive  from  thee,  the  right 
hand  of  fellowship  ! ' 

"  As  he  said  this  he  held  out  his  hand  in  trembling  expec- 
tancy of  a  hearty  shake  from  the  Bishop.  But  in  this  he  was 
disappointed,  for  the  Bishop  coolly  said,  '  Not  so,  Mr.  Byles, 
with  your  leave ;  I  can't  do  this :  but  as  you  are  a  left-handed 
brother,  I  give  you  my  left  hand.'  " 

This  anecdote,  told  by  Bishop  Jarvis  to  the  writer,  has  been 
cherished  in  his  mind  for  many  years,  and  never  referred  to 
but  with  fresh  admiration  of  the  illustrious  man  whose  pres- 
ence of  mind,  by  God's  blessing,  extricated  himself  and  the 
then  infant  Episcopal  Church  in  New  England  from  a  de- 
signed trap.  It  showed  the  charity  of  the  Bishop,  while  it 
maintained  his  principles— that  simplicity  and  godly  sincer- 
ity are  better  than  all  art  and  contrivance,  and  that  he  who 
always  speaks  the  truth  shall  seldom  be  overcome  by  surprise. 


DAYS   OF    SUNSHINE. 

The  writer's  connection  with  Christ  Church,  Hartford,  forms 
the  most  peaceful  part  in  the  history  of  his  life.  This  observa- 
tion was  made  in  England  to  a  nephew  of  G.  W.  Marriott, 
Esq.,— young  Mr.  Caldicott,  then  a  member  of  the  University 
of  Oxford— who  requested  that  the  fact  might  be  recorded  on 
paper.  It  was  so,  and  stands  in  several  manuscripts  and 
printed  forms  in  these  words,  which  the  writer  feels  no  dispo- 
sition ever  to  alter. 

"I  returned  to  the  northern  states,  and  in  the  fall  of  1811 
was,  with  uncommon  felicity  to  myself,  fixed  as  rector  of 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  115 

Christ  Church,  Hartford,  Connecticut.  My  residence  in  this 
city  continued  till  1817.  During  this  period  the  number  of  the 
faithful  greatly  increased;  the  attendants  at  the  Lord's  table, 
from  a  very  few,  became  a  great  number.  I  rejoiced  to  see 
the  blessed  effects  of  the  gospel  of  peace,  and  the  many  exam- 
ples of  a  fruitful  and  holy  life.  In  the  bosom  of  an  enlightened 
society,  softened  by  the  hand  of  urbanity  and  gentleness,  my 
enjoyments,  crowned  with  abundance  of  temporal  blessings, 
were  as  numerous  and  refined  as  fall  to  the  lot  of  man.  Of 
the  time  I  spent  in  this  lovely  city  I  can  never  speak  in  ordi- 
nary terms.  It  is  to  my  remembrance  as  a  dream  of  more 
than  terrestrial  delight.  Of  its  sweets  I  tasted  for  a  while  and 
thought  myself  happy ;  but  God,  who  would  train  his  servants 
more  by  the  reality  of  suffering  than  by  ideal  and  transitory 
bliss,  saw  fit  to  direct  my  thoughts  to  other  and  more  perilous 
duties." 

Testimony  of  Bishop  Dehon  that  prayer  is  a  primary  duty. 

On  the  morning  of  a  fast  day,  appointed  by  national  author- 
ity, to  deprecate  national  sins  in  the  time  of  war,  1812,  the 
writer  was  called  on  in  Hartford  by  Doctor  Dehon,  then 
Bishop  elect  for  South  Carolina.  The  latter  was  then  on  his 
way  to  visit  his  friends  at  the  east,  just  before  his  consecra- 
tion. Overjoyed  to  see  him,  the  writer  asked  him  to  preach. 
"I  can  preach  for  you,"  said  he,  "this  morning,  but  my  ser- 
mon is  in  my  trunk  at  the  inn."  "  There  is  no  time  to  lose, 
then,"  said  the  writer,  "for  the  hour  of  assembling  has  come, 
and,  with  your  leave,  I  will  accompany  you."  So  saying, 
both  hastened  together  along  the  side-walks  to  Bennett  Inn. 

"But,"  said  that  excellent  prelate  to  the  writer,  "you  your- 
self, I  trust,  have  made  preparation  to  preach  on  this  national 
fast  day  .'"  "Not  this  morning.  I  told  my  people  last  Sun- 
day, from  the  desk,  thai  there  would  be  no  sermon  this  morn- 
ing: therefore  their  pleasure  in  hearing  you  will  be  the  more 
surprising."  At  this  moment  the  side-walks  were  crowded  by 
prisons,  evidently  flocking  to  the  Episcopal  Church,  there 

being,  at  that  period  of  tune,  no  place  of  worship  beyond  the 
chinch  that  way. 

"And  are  these  going  to  rhurch  only  to  h.-ar  prayers?" 


116  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

"  Not  just  so,"  said  the  writer ;  "not  just  so.  They  are  going. 
I  trust,  to  pray ;  not  to  hear  one  other  man  do  so ;  for  they 
have  been  taught  to  consider  prayer  as  a  primary  duty  to  be 
performed  by  themselves,  and  not  altogether  delegated  to  an- 
other." "One  thing  I  see,"  said  he;  "your  people  are  all 
going  to  Church,  and  I  shall  have  pleasure  in  speaking  to 
them,  and  the  more  so  because  they  come  through  the  right 
motive,  and  that  is  to  pray,  for  prayer  prepares  the  heart  to 
profit  by  the  sermon ;  so  that  even  what  /  shall  say  to  them 
may  do  them  good.  When  the  fallow  ground  is  broken  up 
by  prayer,  the  seed,  though  sown  by  a  trembling  hand,  may 
take  root  downward  and  bear  fruit  upward.  It  is  even  so  : 
prayer  is  a  primary  duty.  Would  that  all  our  people  would 
go  to  Church  as  much  when  they  do  not  expect  a  sermon  as 
when  they  do,  for  the  sermons  then  would  do  them  good." 

This  is  the  testimony  of  Bishop  Dehon  on  this  all-important 
subject,  and  he,  being  dead,  yet  speaketh.  God  grant  he  may 
not  speak  in  vain  ! 


CHAPTER    XII. 

THE   DEATH   OP   THE    RIGHTEOUS,    OR    SOME   ACCOUNT    OF    THE    LAST 

DAYS    OF    THE    WRITER' S    PARENTS' — LEAVES    HARTFORD PERILS 

ON    HIS    JOURNEY    TO    OHIO. 

It  is  not  because  it  is  strange,  but  because  it  is  common  and 
that  which  concerns  all  men,  that  the  writer  of  this  memoir 
would  speak  of  death. 

That  which  has  happened  to  the  whole  world  gone  before 
us,  and  that  which  must  be  the  lot  of  all  living,  and  that 
which  must  happen  unto  all  till  the  last  judgment,  ought  not 
to  be  considered  as  an  obtrusive  guest.  And  it  is  for  this  rea- 
son that  all  right-minded  persons  are  supposed  to  linger,  with 
melancholy  pleasure,  around  the  death-beds  and  closing  scenes 
of  such  as  have,  in  any  considerable  degree,  attracted  their 
attention,  or  that  of  mankind  in  general.  How  intense  is  the 
sympathetic  feeling  with  which  all  good  men  read  the  last 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  117 

hours  of  our  common  parents,  Adam  and  Eve,  even  though 
they  be  but  imaginary,  as  given  by  Montgomery  in  his  excel- 
lent little  poem,  "  The  World  before  the  Flood."  And  when 
we  open  the  sacred  book  itself,  how  do  our  hearts  mellow  with 
tender,  pleasing,  manly  grief,  as  we  read  that  Abraham,  the 
friend  of  God,  gave  up  the  ghost  and  died  in  a  good  old  age  — 
an  old  man,  full  of  years — and  was  gathered  unto  his  people; 
and  that  his  sons,  Isaac  and  Ishmael,  buried  him  in  the  cave 
of  Machpelah,  in  the  field  which  Abraham  purchased  of  the 
sons  of  Heth ;  there  was  Abraham  buried  and  Sarah  his  wife. 
Who  does  not  delight  to  fancy  himself  there,  "in  the  field  of 
Ephron,  the  son  of  Zohar  the  Hittite,  which  is  before  Mamre," 
and  from  that  consecrated  spot  call  to  mind  what  has  since 
happened,  according  to  his  faith  who  saw  Christ's  day  and 
rejoiced ! 

And  so  of  peaceful  Isaac;  he  also  "  died  and  was  gathered 
unto  his  people,  being  old  and  full  of  days,  and  his  sons  Esau 
and  Jacob  buried  him."  And  when  we  have  followed  Jacob 
through  his  long  and  eventful  life,  who  would  wish  to  pass 
over  his  old  age  and  dying  moments  in  silent  indifference  ? 
When  it  is  said,  "  The  eyes  of  Israel  were  dim  of  age  so  he 
could  not  see,  and  that  the  time  drew  nigh  when  he  must 
die,"  and  that,  after  performing  all  his  last  duties  to  his  fam- 
ily, and  given  forth  his  blessing,  and  "  made  an  end  of  com- 
manding his  sons,  he  gathered  up  his  feet  in  the  bed  and 
yielded  up  the  ghost,  and  was  gathered  unto  his  people,"  a 
holy  pleasure  seems  to  thrill  through  the  frame  of  every 
believer  in  the  God  of  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob,  which 
nothing  can  adequately  express. 

And  why  is  this?  It  is  because  their  people,  according  to 
the  faith,  are  our  people  ;  their  God  is  our  God  ;  their  heaven 
is  our  heaven;  as  they  died,  so  must  we  die;  and  there  in  the 
same  silent  grave  must  we  be  buried  in  the  hope  of  the  same 
glorious  resurrection.  And  may  not  the  writer  be  allowed, 
under  such  impressions  of  general  sympathy,  to  advert  to  his 
own  parents3  death  ?  The  reader  is  supposed  to  have  heen 
acquainted  with  some  traits  of  their  character,  indicating  no 

common    faith  in  the  promises  of  God  —  n<>  want  of  a  deep 

knowledge  of  the  human  heart  —no  deficiency  in   personal 


118  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

courage  to  face  danger,  or  in  patience  to  bear  the  troubles  and 
difficulties  inseparable  from  noble  enterprises. 

While  the  bodies  of  such  persons  are  at  rest,  will  not  the 
reader,  with  the  writer,  spend  a  few  moments  in  a  visit  to 
their  unnoticed  graves  ? 

It  is  usual  to  say  of  the  dead,  that,  when  departing,  they 
gave  evidence  of  their  faith  and  bore  testimony  of  the  truth. 
This  is  not  enough  when  speaking  of  the  parents  of  the  writer. 
Their  whole  lives  bore  testimony  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus ; 
they  lived  the  life,  as  well  as  "  died  the  death,  of  the  righ- 
teous ;"  and  the  evidence  of  this  is  written  in  the  memories  of 
all  who  knew  them,  and  of  all  their  numerous  offspring.  All 
said  at  the  time,  and  all  can  now  say,  with  singular  unanim- 
ity, "  Blessed  are  the  dead  that  die  in  the  Lord,  for  they  rest 
from  their  labors  and  their  works  do  follow  them." 

The  writer's  father  was  eighty-six  years  of  age,  his  mother 
eighty-one,  and  the  latter  died  eight  months  before  the  former, 
(August,  1814.)  When  they  were  separated  by  death  they 
had  lived  together  fifty-one  years :  they  had  been  the  parents 
of  fifteen  children,  fourteen  of  whom  had  grown  to  maturity 
and  usefulness  in  life.  They  had  reason,  more  than  most 
parents,  to  be  thankful  to  the  Author  of  all  mercies,  and  most 
deeply  were  they  penetrated  with  this  divine  favor.  They 
had  lived  in  great  harmony  together  for  more  than  a  half  cen- 
tury ;  and  from  their  youth  had  professed  to  be  the  disciples 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  to  rely  for  grace  and  salvation 
solely  on  Him  who  had  paid  the  debt  of  sin,  and  was  able  and 
willing  to  save  all  who  come  unto  Him  in  faith. 

When  Ihey  drew  near  their  end,  and  felt  the  infirmities  of 
age  admonishing  them  that  death  was  not  far  off,  instead  of 
trembling  and  being  afraid,  they  seemed  to  rejoice  at  his 
approach.  Often  did  their  children  and  attendants  hear  them 
mutually  congratulating  each  other  that  their  change  was 
coming,  that  their  voyage  of  life  was  nearly  over,  and  that 
there  was  every  appearance  that  they  might  be  permitted,  by 
rhe  Disposer  of  events,  to  step  together  on  the  shores  of  bless- 
edness. In  this  pious  wish  they  were  not,  however,  entirely 
gratified,  as  hath  been  mentioned ;  yet  the  time  of  separation 
hung  so  heavily  on  the  survivor,   that  the  good  God  soon 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  119 

released  him  from  his  bondage,  to  join  his  companion  in  Para- 
dise, never  more  to  part. 

From  the  moment  that  the  writer's  mother  died,  his  father 
conceived  himself  from  home,  and  would  frequently  and  most 
earnestly  beg  his  children  to  carry  him  home  to  his  beloved 
wife;  an  instance  of  intense  and  undying  conjugal  affection 
seldom  witnessed.  And  yet  he  would  go  to  the  grave  where 
his  wife  was  laid,  and  with  calmness  speak  of  her  virtues 
while  living.  He  was  asked  what  he  would  have  inscribed 
on  her  tombstone.  He  replied,  alluding  to  her  faith  in  a 
blessed  resurrection,  manifested  by  her  bright  example,  "Write 
on  her  tombstone — 

'THIS   IS   THE    WAY  TO   IMMORTALITY.'" 

Accordingly  it  was  so  inscribed  on  the  headstone  of  her 
grave.  And  when  he  himself  died,  and  was  buried  by  her 
side  soon  after,  they  wrote,  from  his  favorite  author,  whose 
poem  he  could  repeat  nearly  all  by  heart,  and  from  which  he 
had  selected  the  writer's  Christian  name,  the  following  appro- 
priate distich,  — 

"  An  angel's  arm  can't  snatch  me  from  the  grave ; 
Legions  of  angels  can't  confine  me  there  " 

Dr.  Young's  Night  Thoughts. 


'5  -  -"'5"*    J->">uS, 


There  they  both  lie  in  the  grave-yard  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  in  Cornish.  The  ever-green  pine  trees  grow  round 
the  enclosure,  and  the  wind,  as  it  blows  through  the  branches, 
reminds  you  of  the  breath  of  God,  (the  Uvavpa  »Y*ort)  by 
which  the  dead  shall  be  revived  and  quickened,  according  to 
the  promise  of  the  Saviour  by  the  prophet,  — 

"  Thy  dead  men  shall  live ;  together  with  my  dead  body 
shall  they  arise.  Awake  and  sing,  ye  that  dwell  in  the  dust; 
for  thy  dew  is  as  the  dew  of  herbs:  and  the  earth  shall  cast 
out  the  dead."  — Isaiah  xxvi.  19. 

Under  the  limbs  of  these  trees  yon  see  the  pun-  waters  of 
the  river  Connecticut,  and  the  bridge  which  I, -ads  over  to  the 
beautiful  village  of  Wind**,   in  Wnnoiit.     Turn    your    t';i 
west,    and    the  towering   mountain.    Asrutney,    fil]s   all    your 

view.    It  hits  its  head  on  high;  the  nintam  rcpi  upon  its 

brow,  while  oft  the  dark  duu, Is  pegtfl  its  waist-  showing  us 


120  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

that  the  light  of  God's  countenance  can  beam  upon  us  while 
troubles  encompass  us  here  below. 

For  the  last  time  the  writer  visited  this  peaceful,  hallowed 
place,  in  the  summer  of  1S40.  He  plucked  a  wild  flower 
from  the  grassy  graves  of  his  venerable  parents — an  emblem 
of  the  fading  character  of  all  human  things.  He  said,  as  he 
closed  the  grave-yard  gate,  "O  life,  thou  art  but  a  shadow. 
The  only  reality  is  beyond  the  grave." 


THE    WRITER    LEAVES    HARTFORD PERILOUS    JOURNEY    TO    OHIO. 

The  day  before  he  left  Hartford,  which  was  on  the  2d 
March,  1817,  the  writer  administered  the  holy  Sacrament  of 
the  Lord's  supper  to  his  beloved  flock,  for  the  last  time  as 
their  spiritual  pastor.  Nothing  had  been  said  in  the  sermon 
touching  the  event  of  his  going  away,  yet  all  were  in  tears  as 
they  approached,  and  as  they  continued  at,  the  altar.  This 
was  an  unusual  circumstance,  and  can  be  accounted  for  only 
by  knowing  the  sympathy  of  a  generous  people  for  their  min- 
ister, when  undertaking  a  very  hazardous  enterprise.  A  man 
who,  with  whatever  poor  ability,  had  served  them  in  holy 
things  with  great  sincerity,  for  more  than  six  years,  was  about 
to  leave  them ;  not  for  a  more  wealthy  and  opulent  parish,  but 
literally  for  the  wilderness — under  the  patronage  of  no  mis- 
sionary or  any  other  associated  body  of  men,  for  then  there 
were  no  such  in  being — but  he  was  going  depending  on  his 
own  limited  means,  under  Providence. 

There  was  consolation  in  the  faith  that  God  would  be  his 
Protector.  But  such  is  the  frailty  of  poor  human  nature,  that 
the  very  thought  of  his  resting  only  on  an  Almighty  arm, 
when  all  human  support  was  absent,  caused  their  tears  to 
flow.  But  not  a  word  was  said,  no  stopping  after  service, 
and  with  ostentatious  grief  and  formal  wailings,  hanging 
around  their  beloved  minister.  All  went  silently  from  church, 
and,  as  he  has  been  oft  assured  since,  as  they  went  to  their 
several  dwellings,  with  heart-rending  earnestness  prayed  that 
God  would  watch  over  for  good  and  bless  their  friend,  so 
lately  their  loving  pastor.  And  the  writer  has  reason  to 
believe  these  prayers  were  not  disregarded  by  Him  who  hath 


BISHOP   chase's    reminiscences.  121 

all  things  under  his  control.     For  the  truth  of  this  remark  the 
reader  will  look  in  the  pages  which  follow. 

The  writer  walked  from  church  to  his  home,  up  Burr 
street,  alone.  "Cold  blew  the  night  wind,  drifting  fast  the 
snow  fell,"  and  that  evening  the  roads  were  unusually 
obstructed ;  yet  the  pious  Canfield,  one  of  his  communicants, 
who  both  owned  and  drove  the  stage-coach,  called  for  him 
early  on  Monday  morning. 

Leaving  his  wife  and  youngest  child,  then  one  year  old,  in 
his  peaceful  home  in  Hartford,  the  writer  entered  on  his  mel- 
ancholy journey  to  the  west.  It  is  a  long  road,  nearly  four 
hundred  miles,  from  Hartford  to  Buffalo.  Coach  bodies  set 
on  runners,  instead  of  wheels,  was  the  mode  of  travelling. 
This,  in  America,  is  a  kind  of  winter  inland  navigation.  The 
snow  lasted  till  he  got  to  Canandaigua ;  thence  he  went  on 
wheels.  On  this  change  of  the  mode  of  travelling,  the  writer 
experienced  great  distress. 

A  sedentary  habit,  long  continued  while  in  Hartford,  joined 
with  the  effects  of  his  residence  in  a  southern  climate,  had 
induced  complaints  of  the  liver,  which,  when  the  frame  was 
violently  agitated,  caused  a  momentary  agony ;  and  this  took 
place  whenever  the  carriage  passed  the  log-bridges.  In  the 
present  instance,  the  pain  was  not  only  in  the  body,  but 
extended  to  the  mind ;  for  the  writer  thought  he  saw  in  it  a 
death-blow  to  the  whole  enterprise  before  him.  This  painful 
presentiment  was,  however,  most  graciously  alleviated  by 
much  prayer  and  patience. 

The  writer  left  the  stage-coach  at  Batavia,  then  a  nascent 
village,  and  was  conveyed  by  a  farmer  to  the  house  of  a  rela- 
tive who  lived  some  miles  at  the  south.  Here  he  spent  a 
Sunday  and  preached.  The  same  duty  he  performed  in  Buf- 
falo, where  he  found  few  houses  and  fewer  hopes  of  proceed- 
ing  further;  for  at  that  time  there  was  no  coach  qoi  ;my  other 
means  of  conveyance  on  the  southern  shore  to  Ohio,  and  it 
might  he  four  weeks  before  the  ice  in  the  great  lake  would 
give  way.  To  an  ardent  mind,  bent  on  progress,  these  were 
impediments  much  to  be  regretted.  The  snow  had  left  the 
whole  surface  of  the  earth,  but  the  travel  on  the  lake,  though 
considered  by  some  as  dangerous,  was  still  continued. 

11 


122  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

While  conversing  on  this,  to  him,  very  interesting  subject, 
the  writer  espied  a  man  standing  upright  in  his  sled,  with  the 
horses'  heads  facing  the  lake.  Stepping  up  to  him,  the  writer 
said,  "Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  tell  me  whither  you  are 
going  in  your  sleigh?"  "Up  the  lake,"  replied  the  man. 
"  And  will  you  suffer  a  stranger  to  ride  with  you  for  a  reason- 
able compensation?"  said  the  writer.  "I  am  going  only 
twelve  miles,  and  perhaps,  if  you  are  going  far  to  the  west, 
that  distance  will  be  to  you  of  little  consequence ;  but  if  you '11 
go,  jump  in."  The  writer  told  the  landlord  to  make  out  his 
bill,  and  to  bring  out  his  trunk  and  over-coat.  Here  let  the 
reader  pause  and  consider ;  for  the  writer  never  does  so  on 
this  subject,  without  amazement  at  his  own  temerity.  Shall 
it  be  called  such  ?  He  verily  believes  it  was  Divine  guidance. 
God,  having  helped  thus  far,  and  graciously  willing  to  pro- 
vide, and  help,  and  bless  the  writer  still  further,  hid  from  his 
view  the  dangers  which  awaited  him ;  and  strengthening  his 
will  and  wish  to  go  ahead,  opened  the  way,  though  it  were 
only  by  the  smallest  steps,  to  make  more  visible  the  hand  that 
guided — that  it  was  indeed  His  and  none  else. 

Had  the  writer  then  known  the  real  dangers  and  difficul- 
ties which  awaited  his  passing  from  Buffalo  to  Ohio  ;  that  the 
ice  on  the  lake  reached  only  to  Erie ;  that  long  before  reaching 
that  place  it  had  become  so  weakened  by  the  agitation  of  the 
wind  and  the  approach  of  spring  as  to  make  it  dangerous  to 
pass  on  it  from  Erie,  over  the  length  of  the  Pennsylvania 
shore ;  had  he  known  that  the  passage  by  land  was  impracti- 
cable by  reason  of  the  want  of  bridges  over  the  streams,  and 
that  the  ice  in  all  of  them  had  been  broken  up  by  the  vernal 
flood,  and  that  all  the  settlements  for  the  greater  part  of  the 
way  were  but  thin,  and  the  inhabitants  few  and  far  between ; 
had  he  known  all  this,  it  is  feared  his  resolution,  great  as  it  was, 
would  have  failed  him,  and,  suffering  under  a  consciousness  of 
his  infirmity  mentioned  before,  he  would  have  stopped  at  Buf- 
falo. But  the  good  God,  in  mercy,  hid  all  this  from  his  view. 
The  simple  thought  that  twelve  miles  in  his  way  would  be 
something,  and  that  distance  gained,  God  would  provide  ways 
and  means  to  go  further,  occupied  his  mind  as  he  threw  his 
luggage  and  himself  into  the  lumber-box  of  the  farmer's  sleigh. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  123 

As  he  did  so,  a  Mr.  Hibbard  stepped  up  with  his  valise  in 
his  hand,  and  asked  the  same  privilege.  The  sleigh,  thus 
freighted,  was  then  driven  on  to  the  ice,  and  soon  were  we  all 
twelve  miles  up  the  lake  from  Buffalo. 

Hardly  had  we  landed,  ere  we  found  an  opportunity  of 
engaging  another  man  with  his  sleigh,  to  take  us  on  to  Catta- 
raugus creek — distant  twenty-five  miles  from  where  we  were. 
The  ice  seemed  to  be  strong,  though  the  air  was  mild ;  and  the 
sleigh,  experiencing  no  friction,  glided  swiftly  along,  propel- 
ling, rather  than  retarding,  a  pair  of  fine  horses.  Travelling 
thus  with  great  rapidity,  late  as  it  was  when  we  began  our 
journey,  we  were  at  Cattaraugus  creek  before  the  daylight  left 
us.  As  we  approached  it,  nothing  could  exceed  the  dismal 
prospect  before  us.  No  house  nor  shed  was  on  this  side  of 
the  dark,  rolling  stream,  which  was  pouring  its  superabun- 
dant waters  out  on  the  ice  of  the  lake  far  and  wide.  The 
houses  to  which  it  was  understood  by  us  we  were  to  be  car- 
ried for  the  money  we  had  offered,  were  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  creek,  and  the  stream  having,  by  the  late  thaw,  been 
deprived  of  its  icy  bridge,  was  too  deep  to  ford,  running  with 
full  and  overflowing  banks. 

"  What  shall  we  do?"  was  the  simultaneous  question.  "I 
have  brought  you  to  Cattaraugus  creek,"  said  the  driver, 
''and  I  want  my  money."  So  saying,  he  threw  the  trunk, 
great  coat,  and  Mr.  Hibbard's  valise,  out  on  the  beach  of  clean 
gravel  and  paving  stones.  "  But  you  do  not  mean  to  leave  us 
here,  where  there  is  no  house,  to  perish."  "  I  agreed  to  bring 
you  to  Cattaraugus  creek,  and  here  you  be."  "  And  my 
money  is  in  my  pocket,  which  is  another  truism,"  said  the 
writer.  "Now,  hark  you,"  continued  he,  "if  you  leave  us 
here,  as  the  night  is  coming  on  and  there  is  do  shelter  to  go 
to,  we  shall  die ;  this  was  no  part  of  the  contract  between  us ; 
but  there  is  no  use  in  talking  this  way.  As  this  obstruction 
is  an  unexpected  event,  and  may  cause  you  some  delay,  we 
arc  willing  to  pay  you  extra  for  helping  us  out  of  this  diffi- 
culty: and  (0  accomplish  this  end,  turn  your  horses  and  drive 
directly  out  on  the  ice  of  the  Like,  till  you  gel  beyond  the  part 

weakened  by  the  warm,  muddy  water  of  the  creek,  and  then 
cross  and  take  us  round  to  yonder  house  which  we  saw  before 


124  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

the  night  came  on ; "  for  hy  this  time  the  sun  had  long  set, 
and  a  dark  cloud  covered  the  north-east  horizon.  The  driver, 
surlily,  though  immediately,  obeyed,  and  giving  the  lash  of  his 
whip  freely  to  his  fine  horses,  they  soon  took  us  what  was 
deemed  a  sufficient  distance.  "  Now  turn  square  to  the  left." 
He  did  so,  and  began  to  cross  the  muddy  water  of  the  creek, 
running  swiftly  on  the  top  of  the  ice  of  the  lake. 

It  was  terrific  to  the  feelings,  if  not  in  the  eye  of  reason,  to 
hear  the  water  pour  over  the  runners  of  the  sleigh  as  we 
crossed  this  muddy  stream,  in  a  dark  night,  so  far  out  from 
shore.  The  man  was  liberally  rewarded  for  his  extra  trouble, 
and  that  night  we  stayed  at  Mack's  tavern;  an  elderly  person, 
who  agreed  that  his  hired  man  should  take  us  on  the  lake  as 
far  as  the  Four  Corners —  a  place  where  there  were  two  log 
cabins  —  about  twenty-five  miles  short  of  Pennsylvania  line. 

The  next  morning  was  cold  but  clear  —  no  wind,  and  the 
day  promised  to  be  mild  and  pleasant.  A  large,  good  travel- 
ling horse  was  put  before  a  one-horse  sleigh,  called  by  the 
landlord  his  "cutter,"  large  enough  to  accommodate  two  and 
the  driver.     It  was  sunrise  ere  we  set  off. 

In  getting  out  on  to  the  lake,  we  had  to  pass  between  sev- 
eral mounds  of  ice,  and  sometimes  to  climb  over  large  cakes, 
which  had  been  thrown  up  together  by  the  force  of  the  winds 
and  waves.  But  the  driver  knew  his  way,  and  our  horse  was 
rough  shod,  and  the  cutter  was  strong  and  well  built.  The 
scene  before  us,  as  we  came  out  from  among  the  mounds  of 
ice,  was  exceedingly  brilliant,  and  even  sublime.  Before  us, 
up  the  lake,  was  a  level  expanse  of  glassy  ice,  from  two  to 
three  miles  wide,  between  two  ranges  of  ice  mountains,  all 
stretching  parallel  with  the  lake  shore  and  with  one  another, 
as  far  as  the  eye  could  extend,  till  they  were  lost  in  the  dis- 
tance. On  this  expanse,  and  on  these  mountains,  and  on  the 
icicles,  which  hung  in  vast  quantities  and  in  an  infinite 
variety  of  shapes  from  the  rocky,  lofty,  and  sharp-angled 
shore  on  the  left,  the  rising  sun  was  pouring  his  beams. 
Light  and  shade  were  so  distinct,  brilliancy  and  darkness 
were  in  such  proximity,  and  yet  so  blended,  as  to  produce  an 
effect  of  admiration  and  praise  to  the  great  Creator,  never 
before  experienced.     It  would  be  in  vain  to  express  them  here. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  125 

What  added  to  the  adoring  gratitude  to  God,  for  having 
made  all  things  with  such  consummate  skill  and  splendor, 
was  what  appeared  as  we  rode  along  between  these  moun- 
tains of  ice,  manifesting  God's,  providential  goodness,  which 
went  hand  in  hand  with  His  power  and  wisdom.  The  bald- 
headed  eagles  sat  on  these  mountains  of  ice,  with  each  a  fish 
in  his  claw,  fresh  and  clean,  as  if  just  taken  from  the  limpid 
lake.  "What  noble  birds!  How  delicious  their  repast! 
Whence  do  they  obtain  these  fish  at  this  inclement  season?" 
said  the  writer.  "They  get  them,"  said  the  driver,  "from 
the  top  of  the  ice.  These  were  thrown  up  and  deposited 
by  the  winds  and  waves,  in  the  storms  of  last  winter,  and 
being  immediately  frozen,  have  been  kept  till  this  spring, 
when  the  sun  thaws  them  out  for  the  eagles  and  ravens,  who 
at  this  season  have  nothing  else  to  feed  on."  As  the  driver 
told  this  simple  story  of  the  fish,  and  the  storms,  and  the 
eagles,  how  clearly  appeared  the  providential  goodness  of 
God !  "  And  will  not  He  who  feedeth  the  eagles  and  the 
ravens,  which  he  hath  made  to  depend  on  his  goodness,  feed, 
and  support,  and  bless  a  poor,  defenceless,  solitary  missionary, 
who  goeth  forth,  depending  on  his  mercy,  to  preach  his  holy 
word,  and  to  build  up  his  Church  in  the  wilderness?"  There 
was  an  answer  of  faith  to  this  question,  more  consoling  than 
if  the  wealth  of  the  Indies  had  been  laid  at  his  feet. 

It  was  a  little  before  noon  when  our  Cattaraugus  driver 
stopped  on  the  ice,  opposite  the  Four  Corners.  Having 
received  his  pay  and  put  the  luggage  on  the  bank,  he  re- 
turned. "Thus  far  had  the  Lord  helped."  What  next 
would  be  our  lot  we  knew  not.  Leaving  our  trunks  on  the 
beach,  where  there  was  nothing  to  molest  them,  we  walked 
up  the  bank  towards  the  cabins.  As  we  went,  the  writer  per- 
ceived a  pair  of  smooth,  black  horses,  witli  their  harness  on, 
eating  beside  the  fenee,  and  a  man,  sitting  not  far  oil',  shaving 
shingles.  "Who  owns  those  horses?"  said  the  writer.  "I 
do,"  said  the  man.  u  Have  you  also  a  good  sleigh?"  "Yes." 
"Will  you  put  them  before  it  immediately,  and  take  two 
persons  up  the  Lake  afi  far  as  Pennsylvania  line?"  At  this 
he  paused  — said  he  had  just  moved  oil  from  the  east,  and 
wanted  money  "had  enough,"  baring,  in  moving  his  family, 

11*   < 


126  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

expended  every  cent  he  had.  "  But,"  said  he.  "it  is  a  dan- 
gerous job  you  ask  of  me,  for  the  lake  is  open  above,  and  the 
wind  puts  the  water  in  motion,  and  that  causes  the  ice  this 
way  to  crack  ;  and  they  say  it  is  dangerous  to  travel  on ;  but 
if  you  will  reward  me  a  little  extra,  I  think  I'll  go." 

The  bargain  was  soon  made;  a  few  dough-nuts,  bought  of 
the  woman  in  the  cabin,  sufficed  to  allay  the  hunger  of  the 
two  travellers,  and  hearing  the  man  whistling  for  his  dog  and 
cracking  his  whip  to  his  prancing  horses,  just  ready  to  start, 
they  both  ran  to  the  lake  and  were  soon  adjusted  in  their 
seats.  The  horses  trotted  with  uncommon  speed,  and  had 
evenness  as  well  as  length  of  step.  The  shore  seemed  to  fly 
beside  us,  as  since  when  on  our  railroads,  and  soon  were  the 
Four  Corners  out  of  sight. 

The  writer  soon  perceived  the  dangers  to  which  his  present 
driver  had  alluded,  and  the  sight  caused  no  ordinary  feelings. 
The  cracks  in  the  ice  became  more  and  more  visible,  and 
continued  to  increase  in  width,  as  we  drove  rapidly  along. 
Nothing,  however,  was  said.  The  horses  having  trotted 
without  injury  over  the  small  cracks,  became  soon  accus- 
tomed to  leap  over  the  wide  ones ;  but  none  were  so  wide  as 
to  let  in  the  runners  lengthwise,  and  we  blessed  God  silently, 
though  heartily,  for  every  successful  leap. 

New  spirits  seemed  to  be  given  to  our  faithful  beasts  the 
further  they  went  —  no  whip  was  necessary.  The  driver 
clung  to  his  seat,  and  seemed  to  enjoy  their  increased  speed. 
A  house  was  in  sight,  and  directly  he  pulled  up  to  the  smooth, 
pebbly  shore.  "  This  is  the  place  I  promised  to  bring  you  to ; 
it  is  Pennsylvania  line.  You  are  now  on  the  lake  shore  of 
that  state."  "  I  will  go  no  further  on  the  ice,"  said  the  writer. 
"I  am  glad  to  hear  you  say  so,"  said  Mr.  Hibbard,  "for  my 
heart  has  been  in  my  mouth  all  the  way."  "Why  did  not 
you  speak,  if  you  had  objected  to  this  mode  of  travelling?" 
said  the  writer.  "  Because,"  said  he,  "I  was  ashamed  not  to 
possess  as  much  courage  as  a  minister."  How  little  did  he 
know  of  the  writer,  who  had  no  courage  aside  from  his  trust 
in  God.  The  driver  received  his  pay,  called  for  his  dog,  and 
was  off.     Once  more  we  were  on  the  lonely  beach. 

The  lone  log  house  of  the  beach  man,  near  the  Pennsyl- 


BISHOP   chase's   reminiscences.  127 

vania  line,  had  no  other  accommodations  for  the  weary  and 
hungry  travellers,  except  a  boy  to  carry  on  horseback  the 
writer's  trunk  to  the  ridge  road,  two  miles  off.  Mr.  Hibbard 
carried  his  valise  in  his  hand,  and  the  two  walked  to  a  com- 
fortable dwelling,  which  gave  them  lodgings  for  the  night,  but 
had  no  means  to  set  them  on  further.  A  passing  wagon  took 
their  luggage  to  Erie,  while  they  walked  and  sometimes 
chanced  to  catch  a  ride. 

From  Erie  they  hired  a  conveyance  to  Conneaut  creek, 
Ohio,  and  here  Mr.  Hibbard  left  the  writer,  since  which  they 
never  have  met.  As  they  suffered  much  together,  he  hopes 
they  may  meet  in  a  world  where  there  is  rest,  and  peace,  and 
joy  forever ! 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

ARRIVES  IN  OHIO  AND  COMMENCES  HIS    MISSIONARY  LABORS WRITES 

FOR  HIS  FAMILY. 

On  Sunday,  the  lGth  day  of  March,  1817,  the  writer 
preached  his  first  sermon  in  Ohio,  at  Conneaut  creek,  then  a 
few  log  houses,  now  a  considerable  village,  called  Salem. 
There  was  not  an  Episcopalian  in  the  place.  Yet  the  service 
of  the  Prayer-Book  was  performed,  such  parts  of  it  being 
recited  as  needs  no  response.  All  admired  the  excellency  of 
the  prayers,  and  as  usual  were  delighted  to  "hear  them." 
This  was  good  so  far  as  it  went;  but  it  would  have  been 
much  better,  had  they  manifested  their  delight  by  joining  in 
the  prayers. 

It  has  long  become  a  crying  sin  of  our  country,  and,  from 
the  example  of  others,  has  extended  itself  into  the  bosom 
of  the  Episcopal  Church,  in  thai  the  generality  of  people 
consider  their  duty  as  done,  when  they  have  heard  the  min- 
ister pray.  "  We  have  heard  him  —  every  word  he  said  —  he 
addressed  the  congregation  in  an  eloquent  prayer."  Thus  to 
transfer  the  prayer  to  the  minister,  and.  above  all,  to  Suppose 
him  making  Ins  prayer  to  entertain  the  audience,  is  a  great 
sin.     May  (»od  awaken  the  American  people  i(»  a  sense  {>(  it ! 


128  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

On  Monday,  the  17th,  a  person  was  hired  by  the  writer  to 
take  him  on  to  Ashtabula,  where  he  remained  and  officiated 
for  a  week,  when  a  Mr.  Seymour  accompanied  him  on  horse- 
back to  the  township  of  Rome.  The  weather  having  changed 
from  a  mild  temperature  to  severe  cold,  this  journey  was  very 
painful ;  and  we  were  glad,  after  spending  a  night  in  Austin- 
burg,  to  arrive  at  good  Mr.  Cro well's  before  sundown  the  next 
day.  This  worthy  man  (from  Connecticut)  was  overjoyed  to 
see  once  more  a  Church  clergyman.  He  said  he  had  kept  his 
Prayer-Book  amid  all  the  differences  in  matters  of  religion 
among  his  neighbors,  and  found  it  more  like  the  Bible  than 
any  other  way  of  worship.  It  had  hitherto  been  his  solace, 
by  preserving  the  chain  of  his  faith  in  Jesus  bright.  It  taught 
him  to  repeat  his  creed  often,  and  to  pray  often,  and  to  offer 
all  his  petitions  "through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord."  "My 
family,"  said  he,  "  are  not  one  with  me  in  opinion  about  this 
matter ;  but  I  trust  in  God  they  will  be  so  when  they  come  to 
get  rightly  instructed  in  the  way  of  our  primitive  Church." 

And  here  let  it  be  remarked  that  his  prayer  was  heard.  By 
the  exercise  of  a  firm  purpose  and  mild  measures,  joined  with 
his  pious  example,  the  whole  family  of  Mr.  Crowell  were 
trained  in  the  ways  of  primitive  truth  and  order.  The  writer 
preached  at  his  house  the  same  night  in  which  he  entered  it, 
and  he  had  reason  to  believe  the  word  spoken  did  not  return 
to  him  void.  The  neighbors  came  in  from  the  surrounding 
forests,  lighted  by  their  hickory  torches.  There  is  now  a 
church  and  a  respectable  congregation  of  Episcopalians  in  that 
neighborhood,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  many  have  found  the 
house  of  God  on  earth  the  gate  to  heaven. 

Mr.  Seymour  having  returned  to  Ashtabula,  it  became  a 
question  how  the  writer  was  to  get  on  to  Windsor,  where,  it 
was  reported,  were  a  considerable  number  of  Episcopalians. 
"I  can't  go  myself,"  said  Mr.  Crowell,  "having  many  cares 
on  hand,  but  I  will  lend  you  my  mare  to  ride  on;  and 
although  she  is  a  little  stiff  in  one  knee,  yet  she  will  carry 
you  safe  over  the  water-courses."  Had  it  not  been  for  the 
latter  part  of  this  kind  offer  of  the  stiff-kneed  mare,  the  same 
would  have  been  declined  in  favor  of  a  walk  all  the  way  :  as 
it  was,  the  writer  thankfully  accepted  the  offer. 


BISHOP     CHASF/S     REMINISCENCES.  129 

It  was  about  ten  miles  to  Windsor  township,  and  the  road, 
after  the  first  two  or  three  miles,  lay  through  a  dense  forest. 
The  path  in  the  open  land  was  exceedingly  rough  with  frozen 
mud,  and  the  poor  beast  got  on  but  slowly.  The  best  of 
horses  could  scarcely  go  out  of  a  walk,  and  with  the  "stiff- 
kneed  mare"  what  progress  might  be  expected!  About  one 
mile  and  a  half  had  been  measured  over  by  the  slow  steps  of 
this  poor  animal,  when,  attempting  to  get  over  a  log  to  avoid 
on  the  other  side  a  wet  mud-hole,  she  caught  her  game  leg 
and  fell,  with  the  rider's  foot  under  her,  fast  in  the  stirrup. 
A  few  struggles  released  the  writer's  leg ;  but  the  poor  animal 
lay  there  still.  On  examination,  the  mare's  leg  was  found 
caught  fast  between  two  logs,  and  it  evidently  needed  a  long 
and  powerful  lever  to  raise  the  one  log  so  as  to  set  free  the 
animal's  leg  from  the  other.  This  could  be  had  only  by  pur- 
loining a  rail  from  the  fence.  But  "  where  to  stand?"  Alas  ! 
Archimides  himself  was  not  more  puzzled  when  he  said,  if 
this  were  granted  he  could  move  the  world.  Just  so  the 
writer;  for  if  he  stood  far  enough  back  to  raise  the  log  by  bear- 
ing on  the  outer  end  of  the  lever,  he  was  not  near  enough  to 
put  a  block  under  the  log  so  as  to  keep  what  was  gained. 

After  several  fruitless  attempts,  pained  as  he  was  in  his 
bruised  leg,  he  felt  almost  inclined  to  solace  himself  with  a 
hearty  laugh  at  the  ridiculous  figure  he  was  exhibiting  here 
by  the  way-side,  in  a  civilized  country,  thus  bothered !  But 
the  agonies  of  the  poor  animal  before  him  forbade  all  inclina- 
tion to  mirth.  Sympathy  for  her  sufferings  roused  his  ener- 
gies, and  by  great  exertion  he  succeeded  in  throwing  off  the 
log  from  her  leg.  This  done,  she  was  once  more  on  her  feet, 
and  being  led  some  three  hundred  yards  still  further,  was  left 
at  a  house,  with  a  request  to  send  her  back  to  -nod  Mr.  ('row- 
ell's.  The  remainder  of  the  journey  to  Windsor,  from  having 
been  overshadowed  with  trees,  was  not  so  rough.  The  path 
had  not  been  disturbed  by  the  Late  warm  weather,  Long  por- 
tions of  it  being  smooth  with  continued  cakes  of  ice.  What 
a  blessing  this  to  a  man  with  a  sprained  ankle  and  a  bruised 

leg! 

Judge  Solomon  Griswold,  cousin  to  the  presiding  Bishop, 
with  great   hospitality  received  the  writer,  ''weary  and  way- 


130  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

sore."  This  worthy  man  was  from  West  Windsor,  in  Con- 
necticut, and,  with  a  few  families,  chiefly  from  Simsbury,  had 
come  into  the  north  part  of  Ohio  when  an  entire  wilderness. 
Both  himself  and  family  had  suffered  exceedingly,  but  now 
began  to  live  with  some  comfort  in  temporal  things.  Yet  as 
to  the  important  concerns  of  the  eternal  world,  there  was  only 
enough  left  on  their  minds  to  make  them  feel  their  wants.  "  I 
am  overjoyed,"  said  he,  "to  see  a  Church  clergyman,  one  who 
is  duly  authorized  to  administer  sacraments.  I  have  read 
prayers  here  in  the  woods  for  several  years.  The  scattered 
flock  of  Christ  have  been  thus  kept  mindful  that  there  is  a 
fold ;  you,  I  trust,  have  come  to  gather  them  in,  and  to  feed 
them  with  heavenly  food.  I  bless  God  that  I  see  you  among 
us.  I  had  begun  to  think  our  Church  would  never  visit  the 
frontiers." 

Such  joy  there  was  that  a  "  Church  minister"  had  come, 
that  a  considerable  congregation  was  gathered  that  night, 
divine  service  performed,  and  a  sermon  preached.  Notice 
was  given  out  of  the  expected  services  on  the  next  Sunday ; 
of  the  intention  of  the  minister  to  catechize  the  youth,  to  bap- 
tize the  children,  and  to  administer  the  holy  communion  to 
"all  who  truly  repented  of  their  sins,  steadfastly  purposing  to 
lead  new  lives — had  a  lively  faith  in  God's  mercy  in  Christ 
with  a  thankful  remembrance  of  his  death  —  and  were  in 
charity  with  all  men." 

All  this  is  mentioned  here  because  it  is  so  frequently  insinu- 
ated, by  the  enemies  of  the  Church,  that  she  admits  commu- 
nicants to  the  Lord's  table  without  sufficient  preparation.  It 
is  no  such  thing  where  the  clergy  do  their  duty.  Each  and 
every  of  her  ministers  is  bound  to  see  that  all  are  duly  pre- 
pared for  the  ordinances  of  which  Jesus  has  commanded  his 
disciples  to  participate;  and  this  duty  lay  heavy  on  the  mind 
of  the  writer,  when  commencing  the  parish  of  Christ  Church, 
Windsor.  Accordingly  he  stayed  in  that  place  several  weeks 
before  he  administered  the  Lord's  supper. 

In  preparing  the  youth  for  the  first  time  to  receive  that 
blessed  ordinance,  he  found  great  want  of  confirmation.  There 
is  such  solemnity  in  this  apostolic  rite,  and  such  an  evident 
blessing  attending  all  those  who  receive  it  rightly,  that  it  is 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  131 

matter  of  deep  regret  that  any  are  so  situated  as  to  be  obliged 
to  dispense  with  it.  The  writer  baptized  forty-five  in  this 
place,  administered  the  holy  communion  to  seventeen  persons 
on  Easter  day,  and  preached  many  sermons. 

While  in  Windsor  there  was  a  consultation  of  persons  from 
various  townships  in  the  neighborhood,  as  to  the  expediency 
of  holding  a  convention,  in  the  beginning  of  the  coming  year, 
at  Columbus.  The  same  was  agreed  on  with  great  unanimity 
and  zeal. 

The  reader  may  be  curious  to  know  something  more  of  the 
wounded  leg.  Indeed,  it  was  so  swollen  before  arriving  at 
Judge  Gris wold's,  that  the  boot  could  not  be  drawn  off  it.  It 
was  not  till  the  next  day  that  this  was  done,  and  by  nine  on 
the  next  morning  the  swelling  had  subsided.  His  trunk  had 
been  sent  on  to  Windsor  from  Ashtabula  ;  and  now,  being 
obliged  to  travel  altogether  on  horseback  throughout  the  state, 
he  saw  the  necessity  of  leaving  it  at  Windsor,  and  of  purchas- 
ing himself  a  horse.  And  here  he  must  acknowledge,  with 
unfeigned  gratitude,  the  kindness  of  a  friend  in  volunteering 
his  horse  for  the  writer's  use  during  the  whole  journey. 
There  are  some  names  in  "Sardis,"  whose  garments  are  not 
defiled  with  covetousness !     This  man's  name  was  Cook. 

A  month  was  thus  spent  in  passing  through  the  towns  on 
the  Connecticut  reserve,  and  in  organizing  parishes  at  Ra- 
venna, Middleburg,  Zanesville,  and  Columbus. 

During  this  long  course  of  quickly  succeeding  events,  the 
writer  was  never  for  a  moment  unmindful  of  his  dear  family, 
left  far  behind.  Thinking  that,  from  former  directions,  his 
wife  would  come  on  to  Buffalo  in  the  spring,  the  writer 
addressed  her  there  from  Worthington,  directing  her  to  send 
the  goods  to  Sandusky,  and  come  herself  to  Cleveland  by  the 
middle  of  June,  where  she  might  expect  to  see  her  husband, 
with  means  of  transportation  to  Worthington. 

There  seemed  something  unusual  in  giving  such  an  order 
at  thai  stage  of  public  improvements.  The  writer  in  the 
mean  time  intended  to  visit  the  south  and  western  part  of  the 
state;  and  then-  were  no  canals,  qo  railroads,  and  no  steam- 
boats on  the  hikes.     The  only  packet  of  any  kind  that  sailed 


132  bishop  chase's   reminiscences, 

was  the  brig  Michigan  from  the  ports  mentioned,  and  even  she 
more  as  a  trader  than  for  passengers. 

Moreover,  what  uncertainty  attended  the  writer  himself! 
No  place  had  he  fixed  on  as  yet  for  a  residence.  No  distribu- 
tion was  made  of  his  time ;  and  the  distance  he  should  travel, 
and  the  places  he  should  visit,  were  not  as  yet  known  to  him. 
All  before  him,  in  these  respects,  was  a  dark  cloud  of  uncer- 
tainty ;  and  yet  he  gave  directions  concerning  the  removal  of 
his  family  and  effects  as  if  all  were  certainty.  This  was  done 
in  the  middle  of  Ohio,  near  the  first  week  in  May,  and  imme- 
diately he  turned  his  face  towards  Cincinnati ;  officiating  as 
he  passed  through  Springfield  and  Dayton,  he  arrived  late  on 
Saturday  at  Cincinnati. 

Dr.  Drake,  whose  book,  descriptive  of  that  rising  city,  had 
attracted  the  writer's  notice,  received  him  kindly,  and  made 
provision  that  he  should  preach  in  the  brick  meeting-house 
with  two  steeples  the  next  day.  The  congregation  was  large 
and  attentive,  and  at  the  close  of  the  service  the  writer  ob- 
served, that  if  there  were  any  present  friendly  to  the  Episco- 
pal Church  and  desirous  of  forming  a  parish  attached  to  her 
communion  in  that  city,  he  would  be  glad  to  see  them  at  Dr. 
Drake's  immediately  after  the  sermon.  Repairing  thither, 
there  was  a  goodly  number  of  the  most  respectable  inhab- 
itants, and  among  the  rest  was  our  late  chief  magistrate,  his 
excellency  the  president  of  the  United  States,  then  known  by 
his  favorite  name,  "  General  Harrison."  This  distinguished 
gentleman  all  that  time  took  an  active  part  in  promoting  the 
institutions  of  religion  in  Ohio,  and  God  raised  him,  by  an 
unusual  unanimity  of  suffrage,  to  the  presidential  chair  of  his 
country.  May  the  same  divine  goodness  continue  to  bless  all 
the  presidents  of  these  United  States,  so  that  all  things  being 
settled  on  the  best  and  surest  foundations,  may  ensure  to  our 
country  "peace  and  happiness,  truth  and  justice,  religion  and 
piety,  to  the  latest  generations,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord, 
Amen." 


bishop    chase's    reminiscences.  133 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

FAMILIAR    LETTERS    OF    THE    WRITER    AND    HIS    WIFE. 

But  it  is  time  to  stop  in  narrating  events  from  memory, 
long  since  past.  Truth  is  better  attained  by  reading  original 
letters,  written  at  the  time  or  soon  after  the  facts  took  place. 
One  of  this  sort  has  been  preserved,  descriptive  of  the  scenes 
in  the  writer's  life  at  his  first  coming  with  his  family  to  Ohio. 
It  is  as  follows,  and  was  sent  to  his  son,  then  with  his  uncle 
in  Vermont. 

"Worthington,  Jvly  10,  1817. 

"My  Dear  Son  George  :  —  Yesterday  your  mother  and  my- 
self took  a  ride  on  horseback  from  this  place  to  Columbus, 
where,  at  the  post-office,  I  found  a  letter  from  you,  dated  the 
30th  of  May.  If  you  had  known  the  abundance  of  mercies 
which  the  good  God  was  outpouring  on  us,  in  affording  facili- 
ties, almost  to  a  miracle,  to  your  father,  mother,  uncle  and 
aunt,  and  little  brother,  on  their  journey  hither,  you  might 
have  spared  yourself  the  trouble  of  that  part  of  your  good 
letter  which  related  to  them. 

"  While  at  Columbus,  before  my  visit  to  Cincinnati,  I  ad- 
dressed your  mother,  supposing  her  at  Clarence,  near  Buffalo. 
My  letter  was  dated  the  12th  of  May,  and  just  said,  '  Send 
<he  goods  to  Sandusky— be  yourself  at  Cleveland  in  about  a 
month  from  this.'  This  done,  I  went  on  my  journey  by  the 
way  of  Dayton,  Lebanon,  Cincinnati,  Williamsburg,  Newmar- 
ket, Chillicothe,  Circleville,  Lancaster,  and  thence  to  Colum- 
bus again,  as  I  believe  I  told  you. 

"At  this  place  I  performed  service  the  first  Sunday  in 
June.  The  Monday  and  Tuesday  following  I  agreed  to  be- 
come the  rector  of  St.  John's  Church  in  this  place,  Trinity 
Church  in  Columbus,  and  St.  Peter's  Church  in  Delaware, 
fifteen  miles  to  the  north,  a  county  Beat;  purchased  me  five 
lots  in  this  village  and  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres 

of  land,  within  half  a  mile— both  sides  of  the  road—  on  the 
way  to  Columbus;  best  of  land,  sixty  BCICS  Under  cultivation. 
with   a  good   apple   and  peach    orchard  — fruit    plenty  —  no 

12 


134  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

buildings  —  price  two  thousand  and  fifty  dollars,  one  third 
down,  the  rest  in  two  annual  payments. 

"I  received  from  the  trustees  of  Worthington  academy  the 
appointment  of  principal,  to  oversee  the  destinies  of  that  insti- 
tution. 

"  Wednesday  I  went  to  Delaware;  Thursday  to  Norton,  on 
the  frontiers  of  the  United  States  land,  bordering  on  the  Indian 
possessions,  ten  miles  from  Delaware.  Returned  and  preached 
at  Delaware  on  Saturday ;  and  on  Sunday,  the  8th  of  June, 
preached,  performed  divine  service,  and  administered  the  holy 
communion  in  Berkshire,  a  settlement  about  fifteen  miles 
north-east  of  Worthington,  where  there  is  another  of  the  par- 
ishes to  which  I  shall  occasionally  minister  till  they  can  be 
otherwise  supplied. 

"  Monday,  the  9th,  set  my  face  towards  Cleveland,  to  fulfil 
my  appointment  with  your  mother.  My  course  was  north- 
east ;  travelled  twenty-two  miles  through  a  bad  road  to  Fred- 
erick, a  respectable  settlement  and  village  on  the  head  waters 
of  Licking  river,  which  empties  into  the  Muskingum  at  Zanes- 
ville.  Tuesday,  rode  through  a  fine,  dry  chestnut  and  oak 
country,  thirty-six  miles  to  the  Lake  Fork  of  the  Mehicken, 
which  empties  into  the  White  W'oman  at  Coshocton.  On 
Wednesday  rode  towards  Worster  twelve  miles  to  dinner, 
through  a  country  the  same  as  yesterday.  Here  I  took  a 
northerly  direction,  through  a  tract  of  land  just  beginning  to 
be  settled,  and  proceeded  as  far  as  Harrisville,  seventeen  miles 
—  soil  very  rich  and  the  roads  muddy.  Next  day,  Thursday, 
went  twelve  miles  to  Medina,  destined  as  the  county  seat — 
new,  but  fast  settling — soil  very  fine,  and  lying  beautifully. 
Next  day,  Friday,  held  service  in  Medina  and  rode  on  to  Liv- 
erpool, eight  miles,  where  again  we  held  service  the  same  day. 
Saturday,  rained  all  day;  rode  only  two  miles  to  another 
lodging-place.  Sunday,  rode  in  the  morning  about  four  miles 
to  Columbia,  where  live  a  number  of  the  brothers  of  the 
Rev.  A.  Bronson,  of  Vermont.  Here  I  preached  all  day,  and 
was  much  cheered  with  the  good  prospects  of  our  primitive 
Church. 

"  Monday,  16th  of  June,  1817 — a  day  marked  in  my  calen- 
dar with  peculiar  emphasis — I  mounted  my  horse  for  Cleve- 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  135 

land,  now  twenty  miles  off.  I  was  in  company  with  Esq. 
Bronson.  Crossing  the  Rocky  river  twice  without  any  acci- 
dent, though  the  water  was  deep  and  no  bridge,  I  found  we 
were  on  the  ridge  road,  which  is  all  along  the  lakes  sandy  and 
very  good.  My  horse,  somehow  or  other,  kept  the  lead,  and 
went  very,  very  fast.  'What's  the  matter?'  said  Mr.  B. 
'  Are  you  riding  for  a  wager  ] '  '  Something  more  important,' 
said  I.  '  I  can  guess  what  that  is,'  said  he.  At  half  past  one 
I  dismounted  from  my  horse  at  the  mouth  of  the  Cuyahoga 
river,  right  opposite  Cleveland. 

"Safe  in  the  boat  — 'Pray,  Mr.  Boatman,  have  you  any 
late  arrivals  from  Buffalo?'  'Yes,  the  Michigan  lies  off,  and 
has  just  brought  her  passengers  ashore.'  'Were  there  any 
ladies  among  them?'  '  Yes.'  '  Were  there  two,  who,  with  a 
young  gentleman,  had  the  charge  of  a  young  child?'  'Yes, 
they  have  just  gone  up  into  town.' 

"'Pray,  landlord,'  said  I,  as  I  entered  an  inn,  'do  you 

know,  or  can  you  tell  me,   who — where — I  can  find ' 

'Your  family,  Mr.  Chase?  Yes,  we  both  know  you  and 
them;  they  are  at  a  tavern,  safe  and  waiting  for  you.'  It 
seems  my  arrival  had,  in  a  few  minutes,  been  noised  from  one 
end  of  the  village  to  the  other.  Soon  had  I  your  dear  mother, 
and  little  brother,  and  all,  in  my  embrace,  blessing  God  in  one 
breath  and  asking  a  thousand  questions  in  another. 

"  Your  mother  had,  about  a  fortnight  before  her  arrival  at 
Cleveland,  received  my  letter  mentioned  above ;  and,  with  her 
usual  expedition  in  accomplishing  business  of  importance,  had 
set  about  the  work.  Bad  as  the  roads  to  Buffalo  from  Clar- 
ence were,  (and  they  were  so  bad  that  she  was  obliged  to  be 
drawn  through  the  mud  by  oxen,)  she  got  safe  to  Buffalo  — 
arranged  all  her  business  about  the  goods,  lately  arrived  at 
Black  Rock,  in  relation  to  freight  for  the  past  and  destiny  for 
the  future — and  engaged  her  passage  to  Cleveland,  in  less 
time  than  Caesar  'saw,  fought  and  conquered.'  At  four, 
V.  M.,  Saturday,  she  weighed  anchor  at  Buffalo,  and  at  ten. 
A.  M.,  on  Monday,  she  was  safely  landed  and  walking  in  the 
streets  of  Cleveland!  Thus  blessed  beyond  any  former  exam- 
ple, who  could  be  ungrateful?     To  what  was  this  owing? 


136  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

Was  it  to  your  prayers  for  your  dear  mother's  safety?     Con- 
tinue them  with  pious  ardor. 

"  Tuesday  I  held  service  at  Cleveland.  Wednesday  I  left 
your  mother,  and  proceeded  to  return  my  horse,  which,  through 
all  his  journeyings,  was  a  borrowed  one,  the  owner  (God 
bless  him  for  his  kindness)  living  fifty  or  sixty  miles  to  the 
east  of  Cleveland,  at  Windsor,  which,  you  will  remember, 
was  the  place  where  I  organized  my  first  parish  in  Ohio. 
Thither  then  I  went,  leaving  directions  for  your  mother  and 
her  precious  charge,  to  steer  her  course  in  the  first  inland  nav- 
igation wagon  (of  which  there  are  numbers  of  great  conve- 
nience and  safety  passing  from  Cleveland)  to  Canton,  which 
is  about  sixty  miles  a  little  to  the  east  of  south  from  Cleve- 
land. 

:'  Next  day,  Friday,  mounted  my  horse  with  a  prospect  of 
twelve  miles  through  a  mere  forest,  to  ride  to  Windsor.  In 
less  than  thirty-five  minutes  it  began  to  rain,  and  fell  in  sheets 
through  the  whole  distance.  O,  if  you  could  have  seen  me 
plunging  through  the  deepest  mire,  midrib  to  my  horse,  wet, 
the  blessed  while,  as  water  could  make  me  !  But  the  trouble 
is  over.  I  arrived  safe  among  my  loving  Christian  disciples, 
and  all  was  well.  On  Saturday  we  had  Church,  a  large  con- 
gregation, all  rejoiced  to  see  me.  On  Sunday  I  held  service 
all  day,  and  administered  the  communion  to  twenty-three, 
where,  till  last  Easter,  the  holy  sacrament  had  never  been 
administered  before  since  the  creation  of  the  world.  Seven- 
teen was  the  number  then — eight  new  ones — one  absent,  and 
one  had  died. 

"  Monday,  with  a  man  by  my  side  carrying  my  trunk, 
which  I  had  left  there  till  now,  I  proceeded  on  my  old  route  to 
Parkman  and  Ravenna,  at  both  which  places  I  held  service. 
At  Ravenna,  the  county  seat,  the  court  was  sitting;  the  audi- 
ence very  large ;  Church  much  increased.     Here  I  saw  Mr. 

L b ,  of  Vermont.     He  told  me  (will  you  believe  it  ?) 

that  he  had  left  Mrs.  Chase  and  family,  safe  arrived  and  well, 
in  Canton?  What  news  was  this  for  me!  It  was  at  least 
four  days  sooner  than  I  expected.  On  Wednesday  night  I  was 
with  them  again,  rejoicing  and  rejoiced. 

"  The  same  evening  I  hired  a  wagon,  good  and  new,  with 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  137 

two  fine  horses,  and  on  Tuesday  started  with  bag  and  bag- 
gage. Here  we  cut  a  figure ;  good  roads  and  luck  through 
Kendall,  seventeen  miles — stayed  at  a  mere  hut.  Friday, 
started  in  good  spirits — but  what?  never  were  such  roads; 
the  horses  *  stalled,'  —  this  is  the  term  they  give  to  that  very 
pleasant  position  moving  people  are  in,  who  get  stuck  in  the 
mud,  and  have  to  get  oxen  to  draw  them  out, — and  we  got  on 
but  twelve  miles  the  whole  blessed  day ;  and  even  that  would 
never  have  been  accomplished  had  I  not  hired  a  third  horse. 

"  At  Worster,  you  will  remember,  I  entered  on  my  old 
track,  but  there  had  been  so  much  rain  that  it  could  not  be 
pursued  by  reason  of  an  inundated  prairie.  A  Mr.  Skinner 
said  he  would  accompany  and  help  us  to  get  over  the  Lake 
Fork  of  the  Mehicken,  at  a  place  about  three  miles  before  we 
came  to  his  house,  where  we  should,  at  least  some  of  us,  stay 
all  night.  By  the  bye,  Mr.  Skinner  married  Mrs.  Rogers' 
niece,  Mr.  Hezekiah  Bull's  daughter. 

"  The  sun  was  about  an  hour  and  a  half  high  when  we 
reached  the  river — the  stream  not  very  wide,  but  deep  and 
rapid.  Two  or  three  men  were  with  Mr.  S.'s  wagon,  and 
there  were  two  or  three  sons  of  the  forest  who  had  come  to 
our  assistance,  well  acquainted  with  the  water,  and  good 
swimmers.  They  were  from  fourteen  to  sixteen  years  of  age, 
and  the  most  alert  and  obliging  fellows  I  ever  saw. 

"  The  only  means  of  transportation  we  had  was  a  canoe, 
from  twelve  to  fifteen  feet  long,  and  broad  enough  in  the 
broadest  place  for  a  man  of  my  size  to  sit  down  by  squeezing 
a  little.  Well,  how  sped  we  1  The  horses  first  were  mounted 
one  by  one,  six  in  number,  by  our  brave  young  lads,  and 
plunged  headlong  into  the  rapid  current.  Pray,  fancy  to 
yourself  this  most  interesting  scene.  Your  mother  with  your 
little  brother  in  her  arms,  who  could  scarcely  be  restrained 
and  confined  to  his  place,  for  mere  love  of  the  wild  flowers 
that  grew  on  the  rich  bank  around  him,  with  Almira  sitting 
on  the  baggage.  The  young  woodsmen  mounted  the  horses, 
with  more  adroitness  than  i  riding-master,  without  a  bridle, 
and  dashed  them  down  a  strep  bank  Into  the  stream,  to  them 

bottomless     The  first  you  would   see,  after   such   a  process, 
would  be  the  headfl  of  the  hoy  and  the  hois.-,  and  then,  from 

12* 


138  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

the  rebound  and  struggle  of  the  animal,  would  be  the  fore  legs 
striking  in  quick  succession  the  swift  surface  of  the  stream; 
then,  by  cuffing  one  side  or  the  other,  as  they  steered  either 
this  way  or  the  opposite,  up  or  down  the  stream,  they  got 
them  all  safe  across  and  feeding  in  the  luxuriant  pastures  on 
the  other  side. 

"  Now  for  our  wagons,  our  baggage,  and  our  precious 
selves.  The  bodies  of  the  wagons  were  put,  I  should  say 
poised,  on  our  little  canoe ;  a  pound's  weight  seemingly  would 
have  been,  on  either  side,  fatal  to  them ;  yet  the  lads  managed 
them.  Did  you  ever  see  rope-dancers?  I  have,  and  I  assure 
you  it  was  nothing  to  it.  They  stood,  in  the  presence  of  the 
gazing  spectators,  on  the  bow  and  stern  of  this  little  bark,  and, 
if  you'll  believe  it,  got  them  safe  across  the  flowing  tide. 
The  wheels  were  transported  in  the  same  way,  and  such  was 
the  smallness  of  the  skiff  and  the  rapidity  of  the  current,  that 
the  wheels,  as  the  bow  of  the  canoe  was  kept  nearly  up  the 
stream,  were  set  in  motion  as  if  they  were  on  land  passing 
along.  Then,  with  your  little  brother  in  my  arms,  like 
iEneas  with  young  Ascanius,  (I  believe  you  call  him,)  I  com- 
mitted myself  to  the  mere  pig's  trough.  Did  I  look  back  at 
your  mother  as  we  pushed  this  precious  load  from  the  firm 
land?  I  did;  a  mother's  prayer  was  read  in  her  every  fea- 
ture, and  a  mother's  prayer  was  graciously  answered.  We 
got  safe  to  shore. 

"  What  think  you  of  my  feelings  as  our  brave  lads  took  on 
board  their  next  precious  cargo,  your  dear  mother  and  aunt 
Almira  ?  I  watched  the  motion  of  the  little  ark  of  safety  till 
all  was  well.  Blessed  be  God,  all  was  well !  Unconscious 
of  its  rapid  speed,  we  saw  not  the  sun  set  till  the  shades  of 
the  evening  told  us  how  much  in  haste  we  ought  to  be. 

"Soon  was  our  carriage  arranged,  our  goods  replaced,  and 
we  on  our  way  to  the  very  new  settlement,  where  Mr.  Skinner 
is  beginning  to  reside.  I  say  so,  for  it  is  not  three  months 
since  he  first  commenced  his  town  and  plantation  on  the  finest 
site  north  of  the  place  where  I  am  writing  this.  Good  cheer 
made  us  amends  for  the  fatigues  and  dangers  we  had  under- 
gone. 

"  In  the  morning,  Sunday,  it  set  in  to  rain,  and  we  had  two 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 


139 


forks  more  to  pass.  At  this  moment  they  were  fordable,  hut 
might  not  be  so  with  one  hour's  rain.  To  proceed  then  was 
a  matter  of  necessity.  We  did  so,  and  got  that  night  to  Fred- 
erick, the  place  above  described.  On  Monday,  through  the 
bad  roads,  without  any  accident,  we  travelled  to  Berkshire, 
and  on  Tuesday  were  set  down  in  this  place  of  my  future 

residence. 

"The  next  day  your  mother,  though  quite  fatigued  with 
her  journey,  went,  in  company  with  your  uncle  Cyrus  Fay, 
to  see  my  farm ;  and  happy  am  I  to  say  that  she  is  pleased 
beyond  my  fondest  expectations.  The  apples  are  fit  to  make 
pies  and  the  peaches  almost  begin  to  blush.  Last  night  your 
aunt  Almira  also  took  a  walk  to  see  it.  I  am  now  busily 
employed  in  building  me  a  barn  and  farm-house ;  as  to  my 
house  in  town,  it  will  be  left  till  I  am  better  prepared. 

«  My  parishes  will  engage  all  my  attention,  and  I  have  told 
your  uncle  Cyrus  Fay  that  if  he  will  take  care  of  me  till  he 
gets  into  business,  I  will  reward  him.  His  health  is  much 
improved  and  his  old  complaint  has  left  him ;  at  least  he  has 
had  no  return  of  it  since  he  left  Hartford. 

"  My  dear  George,  remember  my  prayers  are  always  for 
you  that  you  may  be  kept  from  vice,  in  peace,  in  health,  and 
in  prosperity.  Do  nothing  without  your  good  uncle's  advice ; 
let  his  every  wish  suggested  be  your  guide,  under  the  Divine 
law  and  blessing.     Write  to  me  often,  and  remember  with 

what,  tender  affection  I  am  your  father, 

"  Philander  Chase. 

"George  Chase." 

In  closing  this  letter,  written  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century 
ago,  the  writer  feels  a  thrill  through  his  breast  of  a  deep  and 
pervading  nature.  That  son  to  whom  it  was  addressed  is 
long  since  gone;  the  dear  mother  of  the  son  is  mouldering  to 
dust,  yet  the  providence  and  goodness  of  God  remain  as  fresh 
on  his  mind  as  ever;  the  same  hand  that  thru  upheld,  and 
kept  him  and  them  from  perishing,  now  sustains  the  aged 
frame  of  their  surviving  relative  in  the  discharge  of  all  his 
painful  trials  and  overwhelming  duties. 

V\  the  mind,  cultivated  talents  and  I  'hnstian  sentiments  of 


140  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

the  wife  and  mother,  spoken  of  in  the  foregoing  letter,  the 
reader  doubtless  would  wish  to  witness  some  specimen.  It 
may  be  found  in  the  following  letter  of  hers,  addressed  to  a 
dear  friend  whom  she  had  left  in  Hartford. 

Copy  of  a  letter  from  Mrs.  Mary  Chase,  in  Worthington, 
Ohio,  to  Mrs.  Mary  Tudor,  of  Hartford,  Connecticut. 

"  My  Dear  Mrs.  Tudor  :  It  is  not  because  I  have  forgotten 
my  good  friends  in  Hartford,  or  my  promise  to  you  in  partic- 
ular, that  I  have  delayed,  thus  long,  making  you  acquainted 
with  my  situation  and  the  events  that  have  occurred  since  I 
saw  you.  Indeed,  so  rapid,  so  unexpected,  and  so  evidently 
directed  by  Infinite  wisdom,  are  the  late  scenes  of  my  life,  that 
I  have  had  no  time  but  to  wonder  and  be  grateful. 

"  On  the  13th  of  May,  about  an  hour  before  sunset,  I 
imprinted  the  last  kiss  upon  the  cheek  of  my  dear  son  George, 
who  had  lingered  behind  the  carriage,  unwilling,  as  it  were, 
to  take  his  final  leave  of  his  mother  and  infant  brother.  To 
say  with  what  emotions  I  drew  down  the  curtain  would  be 
impossible.  To  my  regrets  of  the  past  were  added  doubts  and 
uncertainty  of  the  future.  '  Father  of  mercies,'  said  I  men- 
tally, as  I  took  the  last  view  of  a  place  where  I  had  once 
hoped  to  spend  my  days,  '  Father  of  mercies,  into  thy  hands 
I  commit  myself  and  the  events  of  my  future  life.  Whatever 
it  be  thy  will  to  inflict,  give  me  grace  to  endure;  and  for 
whatever  of  prosperity  thou  hast  in  store  for  me,  give  me 
grace  to  be  thankful.  Preserve,  0  God,  the  life  and  health  of 
my  dear  husband,  and  for  the  rest  thy  will  be  done.' 

"  The  Sunday  after  I  left  Hartford  I  passed  in  Utica.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Baldwin,  and  Mr.  Wadsworth,  son-in-law  to  good 
Mrs.  Adams,  called  to  see  me.  At  Canandaigua  Miss  Clark, 
Miss  Chapin,  and  Miss  Holly  called  to  see  me.  There  is  a 
beautiful  church  erected  in  this  most  beautiful  village,  since 
the  return  of  the  above-named  young  ladies  from  Mrs.  Royce's 
school,  and  they  have  in  their  clergyman  a  very  amiable  and 
promising  young  man,  Mr.  Onderdonk,  of  New  York. 

"  On  the  tenth  day  after  I  left  Hartford  I  reached  Batavia 
without  accident,  and  in  much  better  health  and  spirits  than 
when  I  set  out  on  my  journey.     At  this  place  I  left  the  stage, 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  141 

and  hired  a  wagon  to  take  me  twenty  miles  to  my  sister's  in 
Clarence.  On  the  evening  of  the  25th  we  arrived  in  safety  at 
the  habitation  of  my  sister,  and  were  welcomed  with  much 
cordiality  to  the  woods  and  comforts  of  an  infant  settlement. 
The  next  day,  without  allowing  myself  rest,  I  set  about 
arranging  all  things  for  a  summer  residence  in  the  woods, 
and  preparing  myself  to  be  as  comfortable  and  as  little  trouble 
as  possible.  A  fortnight  passed  away,  and  I  was  content  and 
happy,  anxious  only  to  hear  from  my  husband,  of  whom  I 
had  no  certain  intelligence. 

"  On  the  9th  of  June,  a  person  who  had  been  at  Buffalo  on 
business,  called  and  delivered  me  a  letter,  saying,  '  From  Mr. 
Chase,  I  suppose.'  I  broke  the  seal  and  found  these  words : 
—  <  I  am  on  my  way  to  Cincinnati  in  perfect  good  health. 
Send  the  goods  to  Sandusky,  and  come  yourself  in  a  packet  to 
Cleveland,  where  I  will,  God  willing,  meet  you  by  the  mid- 
dle of  next  month  with  wagons,  horses,  conductors,  &c,  to 
your  heart's  content'  Dated  at  Columbus,  May  12th,  1817. 
I  found,  by  looking  at  the  date,  I  had  no  time  to  lose,  and 
immediately  set  about  preparing  myself  for  my  journey.  At 
the  same  time  it  set  in  to  rain,  and  it  was  not  until  the  15th 
of  the  month,  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  that  I  was 
able  to  go  on  board  for  Cleveland. 

"The  wind  was  fair,  and  the  hope  of  soon  beholding  my 
beloved  husband  put  me  in  uncommon  good  spirits.  '  I  think 
you  have  been  at  sea,'  said  a  passenger,  '  and  must  be  some- 
what acquainted  with  the  danger  of  overloading  a  vessel. 
Pray,  do  you  not  think  we  are  in  danger  if  we  should  have 
a  blow?'  We  had,  besides  other  lading,  nine  hundred  bar- 
rels of  salt  on  board!  I  pressed  my  darling  closer  to  my 
bosom,  and  Hope  for  a  moment  let  go  her  anchor. 

"  Blessed  be  God  for  all  his  mercies  !  I  was  safely  landed 
at  Cleveland  on  the  17th  instant,  about  ten  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  and,  with  a  number  of  other  passengers,  proceeded 
to  the  only  decent  public  house  in  the  place.  As  soon  as  I  was 
seated  and  the  host  made  his  appearance,  '  Pray,  sir,'  said  I, 
'is  there  a  clergyman  in  this  place  by  the  name  of  Chase?' 
'No,'  was  the  reply.  'Has  there  not  b<vn  one  here  by  that 
name?'     'No.     A    Mr.   Searle   has   been    here,   but  no   Mr. 


142  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

Chase.'  'Go,  my  dear  brother/  said  I  to  Cyrus,  (for  you 
know  he  accompanied  me,)  'go  to  the  post-office  and  ask  for 
letters  for  me.'  He  returned  in  a  moment  with  none.  I  am 
sure  it  was  not  more  than  ten  minutes  after  this  that  a  person 
inquired  for  Mrs.  Chase,  and  being  shown  into  the  room, 
observed,  that  he  had  just  heard  of  my  arrival  in  that  place, 
and  thought  it  might  be  gratifying  to  me  to  learn  something 
of  Mr.  Chase.  '  I  heard  him  preach  yesterday,'  said  he,  '  and 
he  will  be  here  in  a  few  hours.'  In  a  few  hours  indeed  — 
three  only  —  I  found  myself  in  the  arms  of  my  beloved  hus- 
band—  browner  and  older  some  —  in  good  health  and  in 
uncommon  good  spirits.  May  the  goodness  of  God  to  me  this 
day  forever  warm  and  animate  my  bosom !  We  stopped  two 
days  in  Cleveland,  and  there  Mr.  C.  left  us  to  visit  some  of 
the  newly-formed  Churches  on  the  Reserve,  and  return  a 
horse  which  had  kindly  been  lent  him  to  visit  the  various 
parts  of  the  state.  I  and  my  family  proceeded  in  a  covered 
wagon  to  Canton  —  distance  about  sixty  miles  from  Cleveland 
—  where  we  waited  five  days  for  Mr.  Chase. 

"  He  having  joined  us,  we  again  set  forward,  passing 
through  Kendal,  &c.,  to  Wooster  —  distant  thirty-five  miles 
from  Canton,  and  over  the  worst  roads  that  can  be  imagined. 
From  Wooster  to  Frederick  —  forty  miles  —  the  roads  are 
good  and  the  country  delightful.  Indeed,  when  I  passed  over 
this  part  of  the  country,  I  forgave  those  writers,  who,  in 
describing  this  new  world,  appear  rather  to  be  speaking  of  a 
world  of  imagination  than  one  that  had  any  real  existence. 
The  country  is  alternate  plain  and  upland,  and  you  have  only 
to  loosen  the  reins  of  imagination  to  convert  the  prairies  into 
highly  cultivated  meadows,  adorned  with  a  variety  of  the 
most  beautiful  and  fragrant  wild  flowers,  and  skirted  with  an 
intermixture  of  the  wild  plum  and  crab-apple. 

"  The  uplands  are  gently  ascending  and  thinly  covered 
with  the  most  beautiful  forest  trees.  Here  you  may  imagine 
some  gentleman  of  taste  has  fixed  his  residence;  and  in 
adorning  the  lands  around  his  habitation,  has  so  artfully  dis- 
posed of  his  vines  and  trees  as  to  be  mistaken  for  nature's 
rival.  Were  it  not  for  the  certainty  that  this  beautiful  and 
highly  picturesque  country  is  inhabited,  in  its  first  outset,  only 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  143 

by  persons  not  famous  for  their  neatness,  taste,  or  civilization, 
one  would  be  almost  tempted  to  go  in  search  of  some  castle, 
or  palace,  or  some  gentleman's  villa,  which  one  might  imagine 
must  be  found  amid  scenery  so  delightful. 

"From  Frederick  to  this  place  the  soil  is  rich,  but  the 
country  is  new,  yet  everywhere  affording  abundance  where 
man  is  not  sparing  of  his  labor.  On  the  first  day  of  July,  we 
arrived  in  this  place.  I  cannot  tell  you  with  what  emotions 
I  first  beheld  a  spot  which  is  probably  to  be  my  residence  for 
life.  At  any  rate,  if  I  shall  ever  be  called  upon  to  change  my 
place  of  residence  again,  I  shall  be  spared  the  misery  and  pain 
of  breaking  attachments  and  separating  from  friends,  who  are 
to  be  valued  as  much  for  their  mental  attainments  as  for  their 
native  good  dispositions  and  pious  affections.  But  may  God 
avert  the  necessity  of  another  removal !  With  my  husband 
and  children  around  me,  and  living  in  the  midst  of  people  on 
whom  the  ordinances  of  religion  evidently  have  a  beneficial 
effect,  and  where  the  sphere  of  my  husband's  usefulness  is 
greatly  enlarged,  I  am  content  till  the  Great  Shepherd  shall 
call  me  to  the  fold  of  everlasting  rest  and  salvation. 

"Oh,  if  there  is  anything  that  wholly  loosens  our  affection 
from  the  world,  it  is  having  no  place  in  it  you  may  call  your 
home  —  living,  like  our  ancient  exemplars,  strangers  and  pil- 
grims even  in  a  land  of  promise  ! 

"  Worthington,  the  place  of  our  present  residence,  is  pleas- 
antly situated  on  the  left  banks  of  the  Whetstone,  one  of  the 
branches  of  the  Scioto  river,  and  about  nine  miles  from 
Columbus,  the  present  seat  of  government.  It  is  but  thirteen 
years  the  coming  Christmas  since  the  first  family  moved  into 
the  place,  then  an  entire  wilderness.  The  inhabitants,  or 
'  settlers,'  as  they  are  called  here,  are  most  of  them  from  New 
England,  and  of  a  sober,  industrious  disposition.  There  are 
also  erected  a  large  brick  academy  and  a  number  of  handsome 
brick  dwelling-houses,  together  witli  a  manufacturing  estab- 
lishment; and  the  coming  summer  they  contemplate  building 
a  church  and  a  cotton  establishment.  Mr.  Chase  is  appointed 
the  principal  of  the  academy,  an  office  at  present  merely  nom- 
inal, as  the  foundation  of  its  future  fame  and  usefulness  is  yet 
to  be  laid. 


144  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

"  Shall  1  tell  you  that  this  is  the  field  designed  for  Philan- 
der, if  it  shall  please  God  to  preserve  his  life  and  health,  and 
to  keep  him  pure  and  unspotted  from  the  vices  by  which  I 
know  he  is  surrounded.  To  you,  who  can  so  readily  enter 
into  my  feelings,  I  can  say,  that  if  any  evil  should  happen  to 
this  dear  boy,  it  would  require  the  utmost  exertion  of  my 
Christian  affections,  with  unfeigned  sincerity  and  resignation 
to  say,  '  Thy  will  be  done.'  Knowing  my  own  heart,  I  pray 
to  our  Father  that  he  would  spare  me  a  trial  I  should  be  so 
little  able  to  bear. 

"  Mr.  Chase  has  purchased  a  small  farm  about  three  fourths 
of  a  mile  from  this  village,  on  which  he  is  now  building  a 
house,  intended  hereafter  for  a  farm-house,  but  which  must 
shelter  his  family  the  coming  winter  from  the  winds  and 
storms.  This,  together  with  the  care  of  five  parishes  and 
occasional  parochial  duty  during  the  week,  so  completely  fills 
up  his  time,  that  his  face  is  seldom  seen  at  home  except  at 
table.  But  his  health  is  good,  and  I  trust  he  may  be  doing 
some  good  to  the  Church  of  the  ever  blessed  Redeemer.  The 
greater  part  of  the  people  in  this  country  may  appropriately  be 
said  to  be  like  sheep  going  astray ;  and  though  one  shepherd 
cannot  do  everything,  yet  every  one  may  do  something 
towards  calling  them  home  to  the  flock  and  fold  of  the  Great 
Shepherd  of  our  salvation. 

"I  endured  the  fatigue  of  my  journey  to  this  country  much 
better  than  could  have  been  imagined,  but  my  health  since  I 
have  been  here  has  not  been  as  good  as  usual.  Dear  little 
Dudley  too,  has  not  been  well  since  our  arrival.  He  is  very 
thin  and  pale,  and  requires  more  care  and  attention  than 
when  six  months  old.  I  trust,  however,  that  it  is  his  teeth 
that  occasions  his  present  indisposition.  Cyrus  and  Almira 
are  well. 

"October,  20th. 

"You  see,  my  dear  Mrs.  Tudor,  by  the  different  dates  of 
my  letter,  that  I  have  been  a  long  time  neglectful  of  my 
acknowledged  obligation.  This  has  been  owing,  in  the  first 
place,  to  the  illness  of  my  dear  babe,  and  in  the  next,  to  our 
living  here  as  we  do  without  the  possibility  of  procuring 
'help.'     With  a  sick  child,  that  requires  day  and  night  my 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  145 

constant  attention,  it  was  not  surprising,  at  least  to  myself, 
that  it  should  bring  on  a  complaint  to  which  you  know  I  have 
been  many  years  subject  —  a  spitting  of  blood.  This  has  pro- 
duced so  great  a  degree  of  weakness  as,  at  times,  almost  to 
deprive  me  of  the  power  to  rise  from  my  bed ;  but  as  the  little 
boy  gets  better  and  the  weather  becomes  cooler,  I  think  my 
health  grows  better  than  otherwise,  particularly  within  a  few 
days.  The  weather  is  very  fine,  and  I  have  been  able  to  ride 
every  morning,  which  I  think  has  contributed  much  towards 
my  own  and  my  little  boy's  recovery.  May  I  be  duly  thank- 
ful for  all  my  blessings  ! 

"  I  have  just  learned,  by  a  letter  from  Philander,  of  the 
alarming  sickness  that  prevails  at  Cambridge.  May  the  good 
God  protect  my  dear  boy  !  I  know  not  how  it  is,  or  why  it 
is,  but  my  heart  has  been  full  of  anxiety  ever  since  I  have 
been  in  this  place.  My  imagination  is  not  apt  to  get  the  bet- 
ter of  my  judgment,  but  in  this  case  I  own  myself  a  very,  very 
child. 

"By  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Searle,  I  learn  that  Mrs. 
Sigourney  was  feared  to  be  in  a  decline.  Poor,  dear  lady  !  I 
feel  it  would  be  a  great  comfort  to  me  to  be  near  her  in  her 
sickness.  She  has  been  so  good  and  kind  to  me  and  mine, 
has  ministered  so  often  to  the  wants  of  my  sick  family,  that 
I  feel  a  something  I  cannot  name  when  I  count  the  miles  that 
separate  me  from  her.  My  prayers  are  now  all  I  can  offer 
for  her  benefit.  May  He,  who  supported  the  agonized  spirit 
of  a  suffering  Redeemer,  be  her  support  and  comforter  ! 

"  Mr.  Wainright,  I  hear,  is  still  with  you,  and  has  received 
priest's  orders.  I  trust  you  find  in  him  everything  you  can 
reasonably  expect  in  a  clergyman,  and  I  know  that  he  will 
find  in  your  little  society  everything  a  clergyman  ought  to 
expect  in  parishioners.  May  you  long  be  happy  in  each 
other ! 

"Pray  have  the  goodness  to  write  to  toe  everything  relative 
to  your  little  Church.  I  do  not  feel  the  less  interested,  now 
that  I  ;mi  absent,  than  when  I  was  present  with  you.  As  a 
branch  of  the  Universal  Church,  I  shall  ever  delight  to  learn 
that  you  bear  much  fruit. 

"I  hope  all  Mr.  Chase's  friends  will  forgive  him  his  seem- 

13 


146  BISHOP   chase's   reminiscences. 

ing  want  of  attention  to  them.  He  has  scarcely  a  moment 
that  is  unoccupied.  The  care  of  his  parishes  and  of  the 
infant  Church  in  this  new  world,  and  the  necessity  of  provid- 
ing a  shelter  for  his  family  this  winter,  completely  fill  up  his 
time ;  but  after  the  new  year,  I  trust  his  time  will  not  be  so 
wholly  taken  up,  but  that  he  can  devote  a  few  moments  every 
day  to  his  friends. 

"  Pray  have  the  goodness  to  mention  me  most  affectionately 
to  all  my  friends  in  Hartford.  Tell  dear  Mrs.  Adams  that  I 
have  the  satisfaction  of  informing  her,  that  I  am  not  likely  to 
become  joint  inhabitant  with  the  pigs  and  fowls  of  a  log 
cabin;  and  though  we  may  not  have  everything  we  wish  for, 
we  have  enough  to  be  thankful  for. 

"  Among  those  whom  I  knew  in  Hartford,  I  know  of  no 
one  I  am  likely  to  forget.  I  beg  you  will  not  punish  me  with 
a  three  months'  silence.  My  illness,  and  that  of  my  family, 
ought  to  be  an  apology  for  the  delay  of  my  promises.  Even 
now  I  am  obliged  to  write  with  my  boy  at  one  elbow,  talking 
or  crying,  while  at  the  other  is  the  daily  provision  for  my 

family. 

"  To  Mr.  Tudor  and  your  family  remember  me  most  affec- 
tionately ;  and  may  God  have  both  you  and  them  in  his  holy 
keeping. 

"  Ever  your  most  affectionate  friend, 

"Mary  Chase. 

"Mrs.  Mary  Tudor." 

The  declining  health  of  the  author  of  the  above  letter,  was 
the  subject  of  the  deepest  solicitude  and  incessant  watchful- 
ness, which,  joined  to  the  care  of  erecting  and  finishing  a  com- 
fortable dwelling  for  his  family  during  the  coming  winter, 
caused  the  circle  of  the  writer's  missionary  duties  to  be  some- 
what confined.  Worthington  occupied  half  his  services,  and 
Delaware  and  Berkshire  each  their  portion.  In  these  alone 
he  baptized  this  year  more  than  one  hundred,  and  before 
winter  his  communion  had  increased  from  a  very  few  to 
sixty-five.  He  moved  into  his  newly-erected  house  before 
Christmas. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  147 


CHAPTER    XV. 

ORGANIZATION    OF    THE    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH   IN    OHIO. 

On  the  5th  of  January,  1818,  there  was  holden,  according 
to  previous  notice  very  generally  given,  a  convention  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  Ohio,  at  Columbus,  nearly  in 
the  centre  of  the  state.  It  consisted  of  two  clergymen,  in  full 
orders,  and  nine  delegates  only ;  and,  though  but  few  in  num- 
ber, they  proceeded  with  the  order  and  regularity  required  in 
the  most  numerous  assemblies.  They  had  met  together  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  his  blessing  they  implored. 

A  president  and  secretary  were  appointed,  and  the  following 
resolution  unanimously  adopted  previously  to  all  other  busi- 
ness, viz.:  — 

"  Resolved  unanimously,  That  we,  the  members  of  this 
convention,  are  in  communion  with  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  and  also  that  we  do 
unanimously  adopt  the  general  Constitution  and  Canons  of  the 
said  Church." 

At  this  convention  a  Diocesan  Constitution  was  adopted,  a 
report  made  on  the  state  of  the  Church,  and  a  committee  of 
respectable  persons  throughout  the  state  appointed,  whose  duty 
it  should  be  to  raise  means  to  support  a  Bishop. 

At  the  close  of  the  proceedings  of  this  convention  is  the  fol- 
lowing record:  — 

"  Resolved,  That  this  convention  view  with  lively  emotions 
of  pleasure  the  nourishing  though  infant  state  of  our  Church 
in  Ohio,  and  that  they  earnestly  recommend  to  the  several 
parishes  in  the  state,  that  each  send  at  least  one  delegate  to 
the  next  convention,  'to  meet  at  Worthington  on  the  first 
Monday  in  June  next.' 

"  Philander  Chase,  President  of  the  Convention. 

11  David  Prince,  Secretary." 

In  the  eye  of  such  as  could  take  an  enlarged  view  of  the 
events  of  Providence,  designed  for  the  good  of  his  Church,  the 
day  of  small  things,  as  exhibited  in  the  above  convention,  was 


148  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

not  despised.  This  was  particularly  exemplified  in  the  mind 
of  the  wife  of  the  writer.  She  regarded  the  meeting  of  the 
few  Church  people  in  Columbus,  as  the  planting  of  a  standard 
in  the  western  world,  around  which  would  gather  the  soldiers 
of  the  cross  in  countless  numbers,  to  contend  earnestly  for  the 
faith  to  the  latest  generations.  To  her  eye  it  was  like  the 
little  cloud  arising  out  of  the  sea,  betokening  abundance  of 
rain  in  spiritual  showers  on  a  dry  and  parched  land.  All, 
therefore,  who  attended  this  convention,  in  calling  at  the 
writer's  house,  were  treated  with  the  utmost  respect.  As 
instruments  in  God's  hand  of  planting  the  Church,  she  hon- 
ored them,  and  gave  them  all  the  personal  attention  and  ser- 
vice her  feeble  frame  would  allow. 

From  that  time  her  health  continued  to  decline.  What  the 
writer  suffered  cannot,  need  not,  be  told.  She  continued  to 
suffer  with  patience  and  resignation  till  the  5th  of  May,  when, 
after  leaving  her  blessing  to  all,  she  went  to  her  rest,  and  now 
lies  buried,  in  the  hope  of  a  blessed  resurrection,  under  the 
chancel  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  in  Worthington,  Ohio. 

Agreeably  to  the  resolutions  passed  in  the  primary  conven- 
tion held  in  Columbus,  and  the  constitution  there  adopted,  the 
clergy  and  lay  delegates  met  at  Worthington,  June  3,  1818. 

The  principal  business  before  them  was  the  choice  of  Bishop 
for  the  then  infant  Church.  This  measure  was  declared  to  be 
expedient,  and  the  writer  was  unanimously  elected  to  fill  that 
elevated  but  most  responsible  office. 

The  proper  notice  of  this  transaction  having  been  sent  to  the 
standing  committees  of  the  several  dioceses  for  their  consent, 
according  to  canon,  the  writer  set  off  for  Philadelphia  to  receive 
consecration.  It  was  not  till  his  arrival  at  Baltimore  that  he 
heard  of  any  opposition.  This  information  was  given  by 
Bishop  Kemp,  and  when  he  came  to  Philadelphia  he  found 
it  even  so.  What  rendered  the  matter  peculiarly  distressing 
was,  that  the  standing  committees  refused  to  act  on  the  case, 
except  barely  by  withholding  their  consent. 

Bishop  White  observed,  that  if  there  were  a  majority  of 
standing  committees  in  other  dioceses  besides  that  of  Pennsyl- 
vania in  his  favor,  the  consecration  might  take  place,  although, 


bishop  chase's  reminiscences.  149 

in  that  case,  he  should  decline  being  one  of  those  who  would 
join  in  the  consecration.  To  this  the  writer  replied,  that  he 
himself  would  never  think  of  proceeding  a  step  in  pursuit  of 
consecration  till  all  were  satisfied  of  its  lawfulness  and  propri- 
ety ;  yea,  more,  he  should  think  it  his  duty  henceforth  to  cease 
from  preaching  and  ministering  in  holy  things  altogether;  for, 
understanding  that  the  objections  affected  his  moral  character, 
it  was  obvious  that,  if  true,  they  unfitted  him  for  the  discharge 
of  the  duties  of  presbyter  as  they  did  for  those  of  Bishop.  To 
meet  the  objections,  therefore,  was  both  his  wish  and  indis- 
pensable duty. 

"But,"  said  Bishop  White,  "the  standing  committees  refuse 
to  take  up  the  business  in  any  shape,  alleging  that  they  are 
not  a  proper  tribunal."  "Then,"  said  the  writer,  "I  request 
a  meeting  of  the  general  convention,  and  stand  pledged  that 
the  diocese  of  Ohio  will  demand  the  same ;  for  it  seems  unrea- 
sonable that  a  Bishop  elect  of  any  state  should,  by  reason  of 
accusations  affecting  his  character,  be  sacrificed  for  want  of  a 
proper  tribunal  before  whom  he  can  meet  his  accusers  and 
repel  their  charges."  The  justice  of  this  ground  taken  by  the 
writer  was  obvious.  The  standing  committees  took  the  mat- 
ter up,  and  the  whole  was  investigated.  Inquiries  were  made 
wherever  the  writer  had  lived,  and  all  was  found  satisfactory 
to  the  committees.  Bishop  White  was  present  during  every 
meeting  of  that  board ;  and  when  all  was  brought  to  a  close, 
that  venerable  prelate  was  heard  to  say  that  he  was  satisfied, 
and  that  the  gentlemen  who  had  opposed  the  consecration  of 
the  Bishop  elect  of  Ohio,  would  do  well  to  consider  if,  on  a 
similar  trial,  their  own  lives  would  bear  like  investigation. 
The  writer  is  grateful  to  a  divine  Providence  that  there  are 
some  now  living,  who  can  bear  witness  to  the  truth  of  this 
statement. 

To  an  ardent  mind,  thus  assailed  in  a  city  where  he  had 
never  been  before,  with  few  or  no  acquaintances,  and  so  far 
from  home,  the  delay  of  nearly  four  months,  required  to  an- 
swer the  most  futile  and  malicious  accusations,  was  long  and 
painful.  Rut  he  is  thankful  that  it  was  then  so  ordered,  for 
it  taught  him  patience,  and  it  is  believed,  by  the  grace  of 

L3* 


150  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

God,  qualified  him  for  far  greater  trials  which  were  in  store 
for  him. 

His  consecration  took  place  on  the  11th  of  February,  1819, 
in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  by  the  Rt  Rev.  William  White, 
D.  D.  Bishops  Hobart  of  New  York,  Kemp  of  Maryland,  and 
Croes  of  New  Jersey,  were  present  and  assisting.  The  Rev. 
Dr.  Beasley  preached  the  consecration  sermon,  in  St.  James' 
Church. 

To  say  with  what  mingled  emotions  of  fear  and  trembling, 
of  joy,  and  hope,  and  grateful  praise,  the  writer  set  off  for 
Ohio,  the  future  scene  of  his  labors,  is  quite  impossible.  At 
times  each  prevailed.  He  returned  as  he  came,  on  horseback, 
but  not  the  same  way.  Instead  of  going  by  Baltimore,  he 
took  Little  York  and  McConnelstown  in  his  route.  He  recol- 
lects the  cold,  and  the  piercing  wind,  and  the  snow,  and  the 
slippery  roads,  as  he  went  up  and  down  the  mountains. 
Surely  he  has  reason  to  recollect  these  things,  for  his  horse 
became  so  strained  that  he  was  obliged  to  leave  him  and  pur- 
chase another,  fresh  and  young,  and  thus  was  fitted  for  the 
hard  service  before  him.  With  this  faithful  animal  the  writer 
kept  pace  with  the  stage-coach,  then  passing  to  Greensburgh, 
not  far  from  Pittsburg. 

The  late  Major  General  of  the  United  States  army  was  then 
in  that  frail  public  vehicle,  on  runners.  His  good  company, 
gentle  manners,  and  great  kindness  to  the  writer,  as  they 
stopped  several  nights  together,  will  never  be  forgotten.  At 
Greensburgh,  the  roads  being  better,  General  Macomb,  in 
the  public  stage,  outstripped  the  writer,  and  proceeded  to  his 
military  station  in  Detroit. 

Dr.  Mowry  was  warden  of  the  Church  at  Pittsburg,  then 
a  little  octagonal  building.  Few  men  were  better  able,  by  his 
counsel  and  kind  encouragement,  to  cheer  the  heart  of  a  mis- 
sionary Bishop  than  this  person.  He  has  now  gone  to  his 
rest,  but  his  memory  lingers  in  the  hearts  of  all  who  knew 
him,  and  his  good  deeds  for  the  Church  are  inscribed  in  the 
history  of  our  Apostolic  Church  in  Western  Pennsylvania. 

No  Christian  person,  who  knows  the  nature  of  the  Episco- 
pal office,  and  how  a  sense  of  its  manifold  duties  ought  to  affect 
the  heart  of  one  recently  consecrated,  will  expect  the  writer  to 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  151 

pass  the  Ohio  river  in  his  narrative,  and  take  charge  of  his 
diocese,  without  noticing  so  important  an  event.  If  he  be 
asked  how  he  felt  when  so  doing,  and  especially  how  his 
heart  was  affected  when,  on  the  28th  of  February,  1819,  he 
preached  his  first  sermon  in  Zanesville,  he  has  no  words  in 
which  to  return  an  adequate  answer.  They  must  be  ima- 
gined rather  than  described.  The  solemn  words  of  his  conse- 
cration were  on  his  mind :  — "  Receive  the  Holy  Ghost  for  the 
office  and  work  of  a  Bishop  in  the  Church  of  God,  now  com- 
mitted to  thee  by  the  imposition  of  our  hands,  in  the  name  of 
the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  Amen. 
And  remember  that  thou  stir  up  the  grace  of  God  which  is 
given  thee  by  the  imposition  of  our  hands ;  for  God  hath  not 
given  us  the  spirit  of  fear,  but  of  power,  and  love,  and  sober- 


ness." 


These  are  the  words  of  commission,  or  apostolic  authority, 
which  were  impressed  on  the  writer's  mind ;  and  then,  as  to 
the  manner  of  executing  that  commission,  who  could  forget 
what  was  said  by  the  presiding  Bishop,  when  he  delivered 
him  the  Bible,  saying,  "Give  heed  unto  reading,  exhortation, 
and  doctrine ;  think  upon  the  things  contained  in  this  book ; 
be  diligent  in  them,  that  the  increase  coming  thereby  may  be 
manifest  unto  all  men :  for  by  so  doing  thou  shalt  save  thy- 
self and  them  that  hear  thee.  Be  to  the  flock  of  Christ  a 
shepherd,  not  a  wolf;  feed  them  ;  devour  them  not.  Hold  up 
the  weak,  heal  the  sick,  bind  up  the  broken,  bring  again  the 
outcast ;  seek  the  lost ;  be  so  merciful  that  you  be  not  too 
remiss ;  so  minister  discipline  that  you  forget  not  mercy ;  that 
when  the  chief  Shepherd  shall  appear,  you  may  receive  the 
never-fading  crown  of  glory,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord, 

Amen." 

In  the  small  flock  at  Zanesville  he  seemed  to  view  the 
whole  extent  of  this  charge,  and,  with  these  feelings  of  duty, 
took  possession  of  his  diocese.  On  the  retrospect  of  this  im- 
portant event,  he  is  inclined  to  say,  "  Blessed  be  the  hand  that 
covered  from  his  view  the  events  of  futurity  ;"  and  the  .suffer- 
ings he  was  afterward  called  toenduiv  in  Ohio.  God  is  good, 
remembering  never  to  try  us  beyond  what  we  are  able.  There 
was  a  chastised  state  of  the  uiiud  at  this  period;  for  although 


152  bishop   chase's  reminiscences. 

the  writer,  by  the  grace  of  God,  had  overcome  one  opposition, 
yet  the  fact  of  its  being  of  so  unrighteous  and  groundless  a 
character,  and  evidently,  to  his  mind,  urged  by  secret  oppo- 
nents, whom  he  could  not,  nor  even  desired  to  discover,  proved 
the  existence  of  danger  at  every  step,  and  the  necessity  of 
unremitting  prayer  and  vigilance. 

On  the  3d  day  of  March,  1819,  he  arrived  at  his  humble 
dwelling  near  Worthington,  Ohio. 

It  is  intended  in  this  memoir  to  enter  no  further  into  domes- 
tic scenes  and  arrangements,  than  is  necessary  in  order  to 
carry  on  a  consistent  thread  of  history,  the  object  of  which  is 
chiefly  to  manifest  the  hand  of  a  kind  Providence ;  His  wis- 
dom and  goodness  who  ordereth  all  things  for  his  glory  and 
the  final  happiness  of  those  who  believe  in  his  name. 

Some  months  had  now  elapsed  since  the  writer  had  been  a 
sincere  mourner  for  the  mother  of  his  children,  when  God  was 
pleased,  through  his  afflictive  hand,  to  deprive  his  niece,  Mrs. 
Lucia  Russell,  also  of  her  husband,  and  to  incline  her  wid- 
owed heart  to  seek  a  shelter  under  her  uncle's  roof  in  Worth- 
ington. It  was  on  one  of  those  days  of  loneliness  which  no 
one  wishes  to  describe,  that  the  writer  was  walking  in  the 
orchard  in  Worthington,  and  saw  a  wagon  stop,  and  a  woman 
dressed  in  black,  with  a  little  daughter  by  her  side,  approach 
him.  On  the  removal  of  her  veil  he  recognized  the  counte- 
nance of  his  dear  niece,  who  used  to  attend  his  school  when  a 
little  child,  in  Bethel,  Vermont,  more  than  twenty  years  before. 
Her  sad  story  was  soon  told — that  her  husband  had  died  soon 
after  reaching  the  northern  and  eastern  part  of  the  state,  and 
that  she  had  come  for  protection  and  comfort  to  her  long-loved 
uncle. 

And  will  the  reader  believe  that  this  afflicted  one,  this  wid- 
owed being,  and  this  her  little  helpless  child  by  her  side,  with 
nothing  but  God  and  innocence  to  recommend  them,  were  des- 
tined to  be  among  the  chief  instruments  in  founding  Kenyon 
and  Jubilee  colleges,  and  thus  of  spreading  light  and  truth 
throughout  the  western  world !  All  this  is  true,  though  the 
fact  seems  past  belief.  This  would  not  have  been  adverted 
to  here,  but  because  this  dear  niece  was  the  person  who  wel- 
comed the  writer  on  his  return  home  after  his  consecration. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  153 

And  the  satisfaction  she  evidently  received  at  hearing  of  the 
protecting  goodness  of  God,  was  among  the  writer's  chiefest 

joys. 

A  hired  man  of  good  sense  and  principle  was  intrusted  with 
the  farm,  and  the  writer  took  leave  of  his  home,  and  went, 
entirely  at  his  own  charge,  in  pursuit  of  diocesan  duty.  His 
path  lay  through  various  counties,  and  wherever  he  went  a 
blessing  seemed  to  follow  him.  He  preached,  baptized,  and 
administered  the  holy  rite  of  confirmation  and  the  sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  supper  to  many  believing  penitents. 

At  Steuben ville,  on  the  16th  of  May,  he  instituted  the  parish 
of  St.  Paul's  Church,  and,  at  the  request  of  many,  visited  the 
destitute  on  the  Virginia  side.  The  parish  at  Wheeling  was 
organized  under  his  direction. 

After  having  passed  through  many  places,  and  being  about 
to  turn  his  face  towards  home  to  meet  his  convention,  he 
heard  of  a  family  in  sickness  and  distress,  who  wished  the 
ministration  of  the  word  and  sacraments.  Their  names  were 
Finley  and  Henderson,  two  of  whom,  having  come  some  dis- 
tance to  hear  service,  desired  the  writer  to  return  with  them. 
He  complied  with  their  request,  and  had  particular  reason  to 
bless  God  for  having  done  so ;  and  as  a  testimony  of  the  deep 
impression  which  this  singular  visit  to  these  destitute  and 
interesting  people  made  on  the  mind,  he  did  not  neglect  to 
leave  on  record  the  following  account  of  Finley  and  his  fam- 
ily :  — 

"  These  people  were  principally  from  Ireland,  and  in  their 
own  country  were  what  are  called  English  Protestants,  bred 
to  a  liberal  and  pious  way  of  thinking,  and  to  a  more  than 
ordinary  courteousness  of  deportment.  Emigrating  from  their 
own  and  coming  to  this  country  in  the  early  settlement  of 
Ohio,  they  fixed  themselves  here  in  the  woods,  and  under- 
went the  many  deprivations  and  hardships  incident  to  a  new 
establishment.  Their  children  grew  up  and  their  families 
increased. 

"  Ardently  attached  to  the  Church,  they  could  not  but  think 
of  her  and  her  pleasant  things,  though  they  had  but  little  pros- 
pect of  seeing  her  prosperity.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Doddridge,  the 
nearest,  and,  for  many  years,  the  only  Episcopal  clergyman  in 


154  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

the  country,  lived  some  twenty  miles  from  them,  on  the  Vir- 
ginia side  of  the  Ohio.  Such  were  his  avocations  that  he  had 
never  been  among  them.  Here  they  were,  isolated  and  alone, 
as  sheep  having  no  shepherd.  Finley  the  elder,  '  the  old  man 
of  whom  I  spake,  was  yet  alive ;'  yet  only  so  alive  as  that 
they  were  obliged  to  raise  him  up  to  salute  me,  as  I  ap- 
proached his  bed.  As  I  took  his  hand,  trembling  with  age 
and  weakness,  he  burst  into  tears,  and  sobbed  aloud.  The 
grateful  effusions  of  his  heart,  at  the  sight  of  a  minister  of  the 
blessed  Jesus,  were  made  intelligible  by  the  most  affecting 
ejaculations  to  God,  his  Maker,  Saviour,  and  Sanctifier.  'I 
see  my  Spiritual  Father,'  said  he,  'my  Bishop,  the  shepherd 
of  the  flock  of  Christ,  of  which  I  have  always  considered 
myself  and  my  little  lambs  about  me  the  members,  but  too 
unworthy,  I  feared,  to  be  sought  and  found  in  this  manner. 
O  Sir!  do  I  live  to  see  this  happy  day?  Yes,  'tis  even  so: 
Blessed  Lord  !  Holy  Jesus  !  Thou  who  once  earnest  in  great 
humility,  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which  was  lost,  receive  the 
tribute  of  my  grateful  heart.  Now  let  thy  servant  depart  in 
peace.'  As  the  venerable  man  spake  forth  the  effusions  of  his 
mind  in  words  like  these,  he  bowed  his  gray  hairs,  and  begged 
the  prayers  and  benedictions  of  the  Church.  They  were 
afforded ;  and  cold  must  that  heart  be  which,  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, could  refuse  to  be  fervent.  The  visitation  office 
was  performed,  in  which  the  family,  joined  by  the  neighbors 
hastily  assembled,  participated. 

"  The  good  effects  of  this  office,  not  only  on  the  person  to 
whom  and  for  whom  they  were  prepared,  but  on  all  who  wit- 
nessed it,  were  apparent.  And  here  I  cannot  but  bear  my 
decided  testimony  in  favor  of  a  rubrical  conformity  to  the 
injunctions  of  our  venerable  Church,  in  preference  to  anything 
which  the  minister  (especially  if  he  be  a  young  man)  may 
substitute  in  its  place.  If  the  minister  sustain  the  character 
of  his  Divine  Master,  whom  he  represents,  and  whose  work 
he  is  doing,  he  need  be  under  no  apprehension  of  incongruity. 
when,  on  entering  the  house  of  the  sick  man,  he  repeats  what 
the  Church  has  commanded  him  to  say,  '  Peace  be  to  this 
house,  and  all  that  dwell  in  it.'  There  is  such  primitive  sim- 
plicity, there  is  something  so  characteristic  of  a  servant  and 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  155 

imitator  of  Jesus  Christ,  in  solemnly  pronouncing  these  words 
on  approaching  a  sick  man's  couch,  that  every  heart  feels 
their  force  and  every  eye  melts  into  tears.  The  soil  is  thus 
prepared  to  receive  the  words  of  exhortation  which  follow, 
and  to  offer  up  the  prayers  with  unfeigned  devotion. 

"  The  branches  of  the  family,  and  other  persons  in  the 
vicinity,  being,  though  at  a  late  hour,  sent  for,  I  proceeded  to 
the  work  of  instruction.  The  nature  and  obligation  of  the 
Christian  covenant  in  baptism,  and  as  renewed  in  confirma- 
tion, and  the  Lord's  supper,  were  dwelt  upon ;  and  the  little 
assembly  were  dismissed  with  earnest  exhortations  to  seek  in 
their  prayers  the  aid  and  direction  of  God's  Holy  Spirit,  to 
guide  them  in  the  solemn  duties  to  be  performed  in  the  morn- 
ing. 

"  I  went  home  with  one  of  the  sons  of  Mr.  Finley,  and  after 
a  short  time  devoted  to  sleep,  at  dawn  of  day  I  returned  to 
the  sick  man's  bed.  The  family  and  friends  came  as  quickly 
together,  and  the  sun  had  scarcely  begun  to  enliven  the 
woods,  when  I-  again  addressed  my  interesting  audience. 
With  what  heartfelt  pleasure — with  what  grateful  exultation, 
did  I  now  read  in  the  countenances  of  this  little  flock  the 
effects  of  gospel  truth !  Every  face  beamed  with  holy  fear 
and  love,  that  blessed  compound  which  speaks  at  once  the 
modest,  the  believing,  and  the  obedient  Christian.  And  when 
I  examined  and  called  for  the  persons  to  be  confirmed,  eleven 
out  of  this  little  circle  presented  themselves.  The  office  was 
begun  and  they  received  the  laying  on  of  hands,  after  which 
the  holy  supper  of  our  Lord  was  administered  to  the  like 
number,  though  not  entirely  to  the  same  persons  —  some  hav- 
ing been  confirmed  before,  and  some,  who  were  now  con- 
firmed, being  not  yet  duly  instructed  for  the  sacrament.  In  a 
cabin,  with  scarcely  a  pane  of  glass  to  let  in  the  light  of  day, 
and  floor  of  roughly-hewn  planks,  we  knelt  down  together, 
and  there  the  holy  offices  were  performed. 

"  The  patriarchal  old  man,  having  caused  himself  to  be 
raised  in  his  bed,  gazed  with  unspeakable  rapture  on  the  scene 
before  him.  His  tears  only  indicated  what  he  felt.  The 
symbols  of  his  dear  Redeemer  were  given  and  received  ;  they 
were  pledges  of  eternal  joys  in  that  world  whither  he  was  so 


156  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

fast  hastening.  Giving  him  the  Episcopal  blessing,  I  took  my 
leave  and  departed.  My  mind,  however,  did  not,  does  not, 
soon  leave  them.  I  never  shall  forget  the  family  and  neigh- 
borhood of  the  venerable  Finley." 

The  foregoing  is  extracted  from  the  address  made  by  the 
writer  to  his  convention  of  1819,  and  the  following  is  an 
address  made  to  him  by  his  clergy,  and  his  answer  to  the 
same. 

"  Address  to  the  Bishop. 

"Rt.  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir: — We  the  undersigned,  clergy- 
men of  the  Episcopal  Church,  would  do  injustice  to  our  feel- 
ings were  we  to  omit  our  congratulation  on  the  establishment 
of  the  Episcopate  in  Ohio. 

"  We  welcome  your  safe  return  to  this  diocese,  after  conse- 
cration to  the  holy  office  which  you  now  sustain  ;  we  felicitate 
ourselves  on  the  successful  issue  of  an  event  so  important  to 
the  interests  of  our  infant  Zion  as  was  this  consecration  ;  we 
rejoice  in  the  opportunity,  now  afforded  by  a  merciful  Provi- 
dence, to  assemble  in  the  first  convention  west  of  the  Allegha- 
nies,  holden  under  its  Episcopal  head. 

"  With  no  ordinary  feelings,  Rt.  Rev.  and  dear  sir,  do  we 
advert  to  the  present  situation  of  the  Church  in  the  west.  It 
is  a  rose  planted  in  the  wilderness  ;  may  it  be  watered  with 
the  dews  of  Heaven !  May  it  be  nourished  by  the  continual 
blessing  of  Him  who  is  the  fountain  of  goodness,  until  it 
flourish  in  beauty  and  perfection  ! 

"  There  is,  indeed,  great  reason  to  be  thankful  for  the  past, 
and  to  take  courage  for  the  time  to  come.  Much  has  been 
done  ;  but  much  remains  to  be  executed.  Under  the  blessing 
of  God,  a  few  more  laborers  in  the  vineyard  would  be  instru- 
mental to  introduce  a  spirit  of  primitive  piety  and  order, 
where  once  they  were  little  known  and  still  less  regarded. 
Are  there  no  means  by  which  they  may  be  procured  ? 

"  We  feel  it  a  duty  to  state,  that  in  your  exertions  for  the 
extension  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  you  will  have  our 
prayers  for  success,  and  our  hearty  cooperation  in  the  work. 
The  importance  of  giving  strength  and  stability  to  the  founda- 
tion of  the  Church  in  this  diocese,  by  a  strict  attention  to  its 


eishop   chase's   reminiscences.  157 

doctrines  and  discipline,  must  be  obvious ;  in  these,  and  in  all 
other  respects,  as  in  duty  bound,  we  promise  our  true  and 
canonical  obedience. 

"  Relying  upon  your  piety  and  zeal  to  direct  the  work, 
trusting  to  the  promises  of  God  to  crown  it  with  success,  with 
prayers  that  your  health  and  usefulness  may  long  be  continued 
a  blessing  to  the  fold  of  Christ,  we  are,  Rt.  Rev.  sir,  your 
friends  and  servants  in  the  Lord,  "  Samuel  Johnston, 

"  Intrepid  Morse. 

"  Worthington,  June  2,  1819." 

"  Reply. 

"Dear  Brethren  in  the  Lord:  — Your  address  to  me  on 
the  subject  of  commencing  the  duties  of  the  Episcopate,  and 
of  opening  the  convention  of  Ohio,  is  now  before  me.  My 
feelings,  in  reading  it,  are  those  of  gratitude  to  God  and  great 
friendship  and  love  to  you.  I  wish  I  could  express  them  in  a 
becoming  manner,  acceptably  to  Him,  and  satisfactorily  to 

myself  and  you. 

"  The  Divine  Head  of  the  Church  has  indeed  been  gracious 
unto  us.  Let  us  improve  his  mercy,  by  devoting  ourselves 
more  and  more  ardently  to  his  service.  Let  us  be  instruments 
in  his  hands  of  watering  this  'rose  in  the  wilderness,'  planted 
by  his  gracious  providence.  Let  us,  with  the  strength  and 
wisdom  which  his  word  and  Holy  Spirit  alone  can  give, 
shield  and  nourish  it.  To  the  blessing  of  the  dews  of  heaven, 
let  us  pray  God  that  he  would  add,  on  the  one  hand,  that  of 
keeping  far  from  it  the  chilling  frosts  of  indifference  and 
impiety ;  and  on  the  other,  that  of  protecting  it  from  the  tem- 
pests of  fanaticism.  By  day  let  it  receive  our  constant,  care, 
and   in  the  night  season  let   it  not  depart  from  our  pious 

thoughts. 

"  Your  tender  solicitude  for  more  laborers  in  the  spiritual 
field  before  us,  is  by  me  most  sincerely  reciprocated.  I  feel 
the  subject  most  deeply ;  and  with  you,  will  pray  the  Lord 
that  he  will  dispose  the  hearts  of  many  to  go  forth  into  his 
vineyard  ;  but  the  means  are,  as  yet,  mostly  withholden  from 

our  view. 

"  Your  characters  in  life,  and  your  friendship  to  me  in  par- 

14 


158  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

ticular,  are  a  sufficient  pledge  of  the  sincerity  with  which  you 
promise  canonical  obedience.  While  I  live,  this  great  honor 
which  God  has  bestowed  on  me  shall,  with  his  help,  never  be 
abused.  His  glory,  and  the  good  of  his  Church,  shall  be  the 
sole  motives  in  prompting  me  to  every  act  of  spiritual  advice 
and  discipline.  That  I  fail  not  herein,  a  sense  of  my  own 
weakness  makes  me  entreat  your  fervent  prayers. 

"To  God's  holy  keeping  and  protection  you  are  now  com- 
mended by  your  faithful  friend  and  pastor, 

"Philander  Chase. 

"  Worthington,  June  2,  1819." 

"  Note  by  the  Editor. 

"On  Sunday,  the  6th  instant,  at  Worthington,  Mr.  Benja- 
min Birge,  of  Lexington,  Kentucky,  was  admitted  to  the  holy 
order  of  Deacons;  and  the  same  day,  seventy-nine  persons 
were  confirmed  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Chase." 


After  the  convention  of  1819,  (from  the  journal  of  which  the 
above  extracts  are  taken,)  the  writer  divided  his  time  between 
his  domestic,  parochial,  and  diocesan  duties.  What  was  con- 
sidered his  parochial  district  comprehended  Delaware,  Berk- 
shire, Worthington,  and  Columbus.  Of  these,  Worthington 
had  the  greater  share  of  his  time ;  the  others,  being  from  ten  to 
fifteen  miles  away,  enjoyed  equal  portions  of  the  other  moiety. 
In  his  absence  on  diocesan  duty,  (and  such  was  the  fact 
during  nearly  all  the  summer  of  1819,)  these  parishes,  for  the 
want  of  ministers,  were  kept  together  by  lay  leading. 

The  Rev.  R.  Searle  was  fixed  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
diocese,  embracing  a  circumference  of  more  than  a  hundred 
miles.  The  Rev.  Samuel  Johnston  was  in  the  south-west, 
with  his  residence  in  Cincinnati.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Doddridge, 
of  Virginia,  officiated  a  part  of  the  time  in  the  eastern  counties 
of  Ohio.  The  Rev.  I.  Morse,  whom  in  June  the  writer  had 
admitted  to  priest's  orders,  took  the  town  of  Zanesville,  the 
newly-formed  parish  of  Steubenville,  and  several  other  places, 
as  missionary  ground  under  his  care. 

Nearly  all  these  extensive  regions  were  visited  by  the  writer 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  159 

either  before  or  after  the  convention  of  this  summer — 1819. 
The  scattered  members  of  Christ's  fold  were  sought  for  in  the 
deep  forests,  and  many  who  had  never  before  acknowledged  a 
divine  Saviour,  were  disposed,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to  forsake 
their  sins  and  come  into  his  primitive  Church.  This  was  a 
cheering  star  in  the  midst  of  a  dark  night.  Rude  and  unin- 
formed as  all  things  appeared,  yet  to  the  eye  of  faith  there 
was  hope  in  every  object.  Like  the  rough  furrows  before  the 
sower,  every  step,  as  the  seed  was  thrown  with  a  broad  cast 
from  his  hand  among  a  listening  people,  had  a  promise  in  it ; 
for  the  seed  was  good,  though  the  sower  was  nothing. 

This  year  the  writer  was  united  in  marriage  to  her  who  is 
now  the  partner  of  his  joys  and  sorrows.  Her  maiden  name 
was  Sophia  May  Ingraham.  Her  parents,  Duncan  and 
Susannah  Ingraham,  were  Bostonians,  and  the  latter  of  the 
Greenleaf  family,  and  sister  to  Daniel  Greenleaf,  Esq.,  of 
Quincy,  Mass. 

They  both  moved  to  Philadelphia,  and  there  were  blessed 
with  a  large  family.  They  were  all  attached  to  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Bishop  White.  While  the  children  were  young,  they  moved 
to  Hudson,  a  town  then  commencing  with  great  hopes  of  com- 
merce on  the  North  river. 

They  subsequently  moved  to  Greenvale,  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Poughkeepsie,  in  Dutchess  county,  where  the  family 
lived  and  attended  the  early  ministrations  of  the  writer  while 
rector  of  the  Church  in  that  place.  Sophia  May  received  con- 
firmation at  the  hands  of  Bishop  Moore,  of  N.  Y.,  1802.  She 
was  married  to  the  writer  in  time  of  public  worship,  on  Sun- 
day, the  4th  of  July,  1819,  by  the  Rev.  Intrepid  Morse,  then 
rector  of  St.  James  Parish,  Zanesville,  Ohio. 


In  returning  home,  late  in  the  fall  of  this  year,  the  writer 
was  reminded  of  a  circumstance  of  which  the  reader  may 
recollect  something,  as  recorded  in  his  reminiscences  of  1808. 
A  letter  was  received  from  his  friends  in  New  Orleans,  R.  M. 

W and  Dr.   Robert  Dowe,  stating  thai  the  colored  man 

Jack,  (whom   the  writer,   when   he   lived  in  that  city,  many 
years  previously,  had  purchased — price  §.">00 —  at  his  own 


160  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

request,  and  who,  after  having  been  clothed  and  well  used, 
had  absconded,  as  was  supposed,  in  the  ship  "  Thomas  Jef- 
ferson,") was  now,  (1819,)  on  his  return  into  the  port  of  New 
Orleans,  arrested,  identified,  and  put  in  prison,  and  there 
awaited  the  arrival  of  the  legal  powers  to  be  sold  for  the  ben- 
efit of  his  master :  and  that  the  sale  would  probably  cover  the 
original  purchase-money  and  its  interest.  The  letter  con- 
cluded with  congratulations  on  the  occurrence  of  so  fortunate 
an  event. 

This  news  put  a  new  face  on  an  old  picture,  every  feature 
of  which  the  writer  had  been  endeavoring  to  forget  for  eleven 
years.  And  now  he  had  reasons,  peculiar  to  his  condition, 
for  dismissing  it  entirely  from  his  mind;  for  although  his 
once  owning  the  slave  Jack,  like  that  of  Philemon  and  other 
primitive  Christians,  was  the  result  of  providential  necessity ; 
and  though  Jack,  like  Onesimus,  might  be  considered  morally 
bound  to  return  to  his  master ;  yet  now,  under  present  circum- 
stances, if  his  master  were  to  reclaim  and  sell  him  for  money, 
his  whole  diocese  would  attribute  it  to  a  principle  of  covetous- 
ness,  the  great  idol  which  at  the  present  day  all  are  so  much 
inclined  to  worship,  and  thus  his  usefulness  in  Ohio  would  be 
destroyed  forever.  And  though  this  tyrant, — the  love  of 
money, — rules  over  the  hearts  of  so  many,  yet  all  are  very 
jealous  of  the  affections  of  the  clergy  in  this  respect,  and  fain 
will  starve  their  bodies  to  save  their  souls.  The  writer  saw, 
or  thought  he  saw,  it  would  be  so  here ;  for  though  his  diocese 
gave  him  nothing  to  live  on,  yet  were  he  to  reclaim  his  ser- 
vant Jack,  or  even  to  sue  for  the  money  which  the  New 
Orleans  Church  owed  him,  and  which  they  have  since,  in 
1840,  so  honorably  paid  him,  ($1,500,)  all  would  have  fallen 
on  his  character  without  mercy,  and  he  would  have  labored 
among  them  in  vain.  Therefore,  with  a  full  determination  to 
bury  the  whole  matter  in  oblivion,  he  wrote  to  his  friends  to 
emancipate  his  servant  Jack,  and  let  him  go  whithersoever  he 
pleased ;  that  if  he  would  pay  his  prison  fees  and  other  costs 
of  suit,  it  was  all  his  master  wanted. 

And  why,  the  reader  will  ask,  has  this  grave  of  oblivion 
been  disturbed  here  ?  Why  not  suffer  Jack  to  rest  in  his  quiet 
bed?  The  answer  is,  because  there  was  more  in  this  than 
appears.     Jack  becomes  hereafter,  in  this  history  of  the  writer's 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  161 

life,  an  important  personage,  and  proves,  however  insignifi- 
cant in  himself,  to  be  one  instrument  among  many  of  the 
means,  in  the  hand  of  Providence,  of  rescuing  the  writer  from 
great  distress  in  London,  and,  by  consequence,  of  enabling 
him  to  found  an  institution,  now  the  ornament  of  the  west. 

Gentle  reader,  have  patience;  all  this  will  appear  in  due 
time  and  order.  At  present  it  is  our  duty  to  pass  on  to 
another  chapter. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

SOME   ACCOUNT    OF    THE   WRITER'S    SON    PHILANDER. 

In  the  retrospect  of  the  year  1820,  the  first  object  that  pre- 
sents itself  to  the  eye  of  the  writer  is,  the  dear  image  of  his 
son  Philander  Chase,  Junior,  who  came  to  him  in  the  month 
of  March,  from  a  sea  voyage.  While  introducing  him  to  the 
notice  of  the  reader,  he  feels  conscious  that  something  is  due 
to  the  memory  of  his  deceased  son,  if  it  be  nothing  more  than 
to  bespeak  the  sympathy  of  such  as,  for  want  of  information, 
may  pass  lightly  over  his  loved  name.  It  is  due  also  to  the 
reader,  that  so  near  a  relative,  and  a  fellow-laborer  with  his 
father,  should  be  made  known  to  him.  Nothing,  however, 
will  here  be  inserted  touching  the  character  and  life  of  this 
dear  youth,  but  that  which  took  place  before  his  coming  to 
Ohio,  leaving  his  future  labors  in  the  Church  of  Christ,  and 
his  glorious  and  triumphant  death,  to  be  mentioned  in  their 
proper  places. 

He  was  born  in  the  township  of  Bethel,  in  Vermont,  while 
his  father  was  a  missionary  in  the  western  parts  of  New 
York,  was  a  child  when  in  Ponghkeepsie,  and  had  attained 
the  age  of  eight  years,  when,  leaving  him  with  his  uncle, 
Judge  Chase,  of  Randolph,  Vt.,  his  parents  moved  to  New 
Orleans,  as  has  been  related.  Ity  this  worthy  and  most 
affectionate  relative,  he  and  his  brother  <  ieorge  were  sent  reg- 
ularly to  school,  until  their  parents  retained  from  the  south 
and  settled  in  Connecticut.     The  hoys  were  then  taken  from 

14* 


162  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

Randolph  and  placed  at  the  Episcopal  academy  in  Cheshire, 
where  they  were  signally  benefited  by  the  tuition  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Tillotson  Bronson,  so  justly  esteemed  a  good  scholar  and 

sound  divine. 

From  this  academy  George  entered  Yale  college,  New 
Haven;  but  Philander,  preferring  Harvard,  was  kept  back 
till  his  judgment  should  be  more  matured.  This  delay  was, 
in  many  respects,  truly  beneficial.  It  gave  him  opportunity 
to  read,  under  the  direction  of  an  anxious  father,  many  things 
which  enabled  him  to  defend  his  faith,  when  attacked  by 
unbelievers,  in  the  great  truths  of  revealed  religion.  It  also 
enabled  him  to  examine  the  principles  he  had  been  taught, 
and  to  search  out  the  proofs  from  the  word  of  God  by  which 
they  were  sustained.  In  the  great  matter  of  the  divinity  of 
Christ,  on  which  rests  the  atonement,  the  essential  pillar  of 
the  Christian  faith,  he  was  duly  instructed  by  the  writings  of 
Bishop  Bull,  Bishop  Sherlock,  and  Dr.  Waterland.  Dr.  McGee 
on  the  Atonement,  itself  then  newly  published,  was  unanswer- 
able to  his  mind ;  and  as  to  the  Trinity  of  persons  and  Unity 
of  the  Godhead,  as  expressed  in  the  Nicene  and  Athanasian 
creeds,  nothing  could  be  more  satisfactory  than  the  scriptural 
proofs  of  the  Rev.  William  Jones,  of  Nayland. 

These  he  studied  with  great  care  and  seriousness  of  heart ; 
and  God,  by  his  grace,  rewarded  his  faith  by  the  hope  of  sal- 
vation. His  own  soul  rested  on  this  one  immovable  basis :  — 
"Thus  saith  the  Lord;"  and  when  this  revealed  word 
respected  the  nature  of  God,  which  neither  man  nor  angels 
can  "comprehend,"  he  bowed  submissive.  Thus  in  enter- 
ing on  scenes  of  great  trial,  like  David,  he  was  assured, 
not  with  man's  wisdom  but  with  faith,  in  the  great  Eloim 
Jehovah;  and  while  a  "scrip"  with  a  few  "smooth  stones 
from  the  brook"  was  his  defence,  he  feared  no  harm.  But 
besides  the  time  necessary  for  these  studies,  he  had  several 
months  on  his  hands  before  the  period  fixed  for  his  entering 
college.  These  he  volunteered  to  employ  in  teaching  school, 
which  he  did  to  great  satisfaction. 

It  is  not  common  to  see  a  youth  of  only  sixteen  years  of 
age  intrusted  with  the  superintending  care  of  a  large  country 
school,  and  by  his  steady  deportment,  his  learning  and  aptness 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  163 

to  teach,  gaming  the  respect  of  both  his  scholars  and  their 
parents.  Yet  this  was  the  case  with  this  dear  youth;  and 
while  it  was  so,  his  mind  was  active,  his  temper  cheerful,  and 
his  affections  warm  towards  the  dear  ones  he  had  left  at 
home. 

As  a  specimen  of  this,  the  writer  will  here  introduce  an 
extract  from  a  letter  which  this  young  person,  yet  a  boy  in 
years,  wrote  to  his  brother  George,  then  at  Yale  college.  It  is 
dated  at  Ketch  Mills,  Tolland  county,  Ct.,  August  13,  1815, 
where  he  had  been  keeping  school  six  hours  in  the  day  for 
some  months.  Instead  of  idling  his  time  away  in  the  low 
company  of  a  country  village,  or,  as  is  too  common  with 
"young,  spruce  country  schoolmasters,"  trying  to  corrupt  the 
minds  of  unsuspicious  and  unguarded  persons  of  his  own  age, 
behold  him  thirsting  after  knowledge,  and  eager  to  embellish 
his  mind  with  useful  learning,  especially  that  which  would  fit 
him  for  college  and  a  future  profession. 

Speaking  of  his  studies  and  the  manner  of  spending  his 
vacant  hours,  he  says  to  his  brother :  — 

I  am  no  boaster,  and  though  I  yield  the  palm  to  you  in  the  article  of  study- 
ing, I  will  give  you  a  short  history  of  my  campaigns  in  the  fields  of  literature. 

In  the  first  place,  you  must  be  informed  that,  during  the  first  two  weeks  of 
my  residence  here,  I  had  no  books,  and  I  rummaged  Mr.  £■■-■  's  library  until  I 
luckily  found  the  Edinburgh  Encyclopedia,  down  to  the  letter  Ch,  and  I  imme- 
diately commenced  reading,  until,  I  believe,  I  read  everything  interesting. 
Soon  after  I  got  some  books  from  home,  and  have  since  had  a  constant  supply, 
and  must  refer  you  to  the  following  catalogue  as  a  kind  of  bulletin  ;  and  though 
there  are  some  books  rather  small,  yel  yon  must  allow  them  to  be  books;  some 
of  thern  are  Latin  and  Greek,  which  belong  to  those  lately  arrived  from  England, 
[these  were  sent  for  by  the  writer  for  his  own  use,]  which  you  never  saw :  — 

Gillies'  Greece,  4  vols. ;  Juvenal  and  Persius  I  have  finished,  that  is,  I  have 
read  more  than  three  fourths  of  it  here;  Lord  of  the  Isles,  1  vol. ;  Pleasures  of 
Memory  and  Pleasures  of  Hope ;  Solyman  and  Almena,  (a  silly  thing  ;)  Silli- 
man's  Travels,  2  vols.;  Terence's  Comedies,  1  vol.:  Tacitus/  2  vol-.;  Mrs. 
West's  Letters  to  her  Son ;  do.  to  a  Lady]  Tibnlhts  and  Propertins,  1  vol.  I 
am  now  reading  Longinus,  Which  is  tonga  enough) and  have  renewed  the  study 
of  Hebrew  with  increasing  activity.  I  have  studied  soBfl  In  Euripides  and 
some  in  Grrcca  Majora.  Resides.  ]  have  spent  some  of  my  time  in  painting 
scenes  in  India  ink. 

Now  don't  you  think  I  have  not  been  idle.  Sometimes,  u  is  rarely,  1  take 
a  pereprinatory  ramble  abroad,  n>  taste  the  freshness  of  the  air;  and  during 
these  tunes,  the  sweet  image  of  home  and  of  all  the  ties  which  bind  me  to  this 
world,  rises  to  my  view,  dressed  in  the  must  alluring  garb  my  fancy  can  sug- 
gest.     'T  is  then,  when  I  climb  the  hills  which  environ  the  village,       'tis  then 

that  I  tast.-  the  sweetest  momenta  of  my  life;  when  the  sun  is  just  setting 

beneath  the  horizon,  and  the  clouds  have  assumed  thru-  gaudy  and  changeable 
dresses;    when   nature   is   beginning  to  be  clad  in   sober  twilight:    'tis  then  I 

enjoy  a  walk.  Our.-,  and  l  remember  the  time  well  when,  nisi  men  a  scene  as 
that  I  have  described  presented  itself  before  me.  I  had  climbed  the  neighbor- 
ing hill;    1  SAW  the   hist  tints  of  the  expiring   rays  of  ih<-  sun    and   sat   down  to 


164  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

contemplate  the  scene.  The  heat  of  the  preceding  day  being  now  changed  for 
the  refreshing  breeze  of  the  evening,  the  solemn  stillness  which  surrounded  me 
invited  repose  ;  I  imperceptibly  fell  into  a  sleep,  and  was  immediately  visited  with 
a  dream,  of  which,  at  some  future  day,  I  shall  give  you  a  description.     *     * 

I  had  written  thus  far  when  I  thought  you  would  like  to  know  what  said 
romantic  dream  was  ;  accordingly  I  set  myself  to  work  and  composed  the  follow- 
ing song  for  you,  which  you  will  accept  as  a  token  that  I  shall  compose  the  ode 
to  E — —  as  soon  as  possible  :  — 

A  DREAM,  OR  VISION. 
BY  P.  CHASE,  Jr.,  AUGUST  13,  1815. 

Methought  I  saw  the  angel  forms 

Of  those  I  dearly  love, 
The  troop  angelic  gathered  round, 

And  toward  me  they  did  move. 

Methought  I  saw  them  all  arrayed 

In  robes  of  spotless  white, 
That  loosely  flowed  about  their  arms, 

And  seemed  like  ether  bright. 

'T  was  then  my  reverend  Father  came 

Around  my  mossy  bed, 
And  thus,  with  outstretched  arms,  he  poured 

His  blessings  on  my  head  : 

"God  bless  and  keep  thee,  0  my  son ; 

Preserve  thee  safe  from  harm, 
And  ever  lead  thee  here  below, 

By  his  Almighty  arm." 

1  thought  my  Mother  then  approached, 

And  knelt  beside  me  there, 
And  thus  unto  the  God  she  loved 

Poured  forth  her  fervent  prayer : 

"  Great  God,  look  down  from  heaven  above, 

Behold  and  bless  my  child ; 
Grant  him  to  walk  in  thy  commands, 

And  ne'er  by  sin  be  guiled." 

>T  was  then  I  thought  my  Brother  came, 

And  standing  near  my  head, 
He  stooped,  and  whispering  in  my  ear, 

In  lowly  accents  said  : 

«  My  brother  dear,  be  not  cast  down, 

But  be  it  thine  to  know, 
There  is  a  high  and  heavenly  cure 

For  every  mortal  woe." 

That  Friend,  whom  still  my  soul  holds  dear, 

Advancing  next  I  see ; 
She  passing  smiled,  and  softly  sighed, 

And  said,  "  Remember  me." 

And  then,  I  thought,  the  rest  came  up, 

And  as  each  gathered  round, 
I  heard  them  sing  a  chorus  sweet, 

In  notes  of  heavenly  sound  ; 


BISHOP    CHASE    S     REMINISCENCES.  165 

"  Sleep,  friend  beloved,  and  sleep  in  peace, 

And  only  wake  to  joy  ; 
May  ever  happiness  be  thine, 

That  knows  of  no  alloy." 

When  the  time  came  for  his  entering  the  university,  his 
father  had  such  confidence  in  his  prudence  and  acquirements 
as  to  send  him  alone  to  be  examined,  and  to  take  his  place 
according  to  his  merits.  The  examination  was  long,  and, 
under  such  circumstances,  with  no  one  to  vouch  for  his 
attainments,  as  usual,  very  critical.  It  resulted  in  his  taking 
his  place  in  the  junior  class,  nearly  at  the  head,  thus  mount- 
ing over  two  years,  and  assuring  himself  that,  in  two  years 
more,  by  faithful  application,  he  would  deserve  a  bachelor's 
degree. 

His  exercises  in  Harvard  were  above  mediocrity,  and  to  his 
Christian  friends  of  the  most  pleasing  character.  A  few  of 
these  shall  appear  here.  The  first  is  a  theme  in  prose,  which 
seems  to  anticipate  the  short  and  useful  life  he  led :  — 

THEME   2. 
BY  PHILANDER  CHASE,  Jcn. 

"  That  life  is  long,  which  answers  life's  great  end." 

Dr.  Young. 

This  sentiment  of  one  of  the  best  of  poets  is  deserving  of  peculiar  considera- 
tion. It  speaks  volumes  to  the  heart,  and  were  we  nicely  to  weigh  either  its 
truth  or  its  force,  we  should  find  that  it  deserves  to  be  written  in  letters  of  gold. 
Without  attempting  to  analyze  the  sentence,  the  subject  will  be  treated  in  a 
general  way,  according  as  the  most  prominent  ideas  present  themselves. 

As  mankind  find  themselves  situated,  the  first  and  most  natural  inquiry  is, 
for  what  end  were  we  made ;  for  what  purpose  were  we  endowed  with  the 
noblest  faculties  —  faculties  so  far  superior  to  those  of  the  brute  creation? 
Reason  was  not  given  us  to  be  quenched  in  the  fumes  of  ebriety  ;  man  was  not 
raised  above  the  condition  of  brutes  to  degrade  himself  below  them  ;  the  fine 
and  delicate  sensibilities  of  his  nature  were  not  given  him  to  be  blunted  with 
hardheartedness  :  and  in  fine,  every  faculty  was  made  tor  some  peculiar  use, 
not  to  be  done  away  by  its  abuse.  It  is  plain,  then,  that  we  were  designed  for 
some  excellent  purpose,  and  that  is,  to  gain  Heaven  ;  and  it  is  this  exalted  con- 
ception of  our  nature  which  is  intended  to  be  expressed  in  our  theme. 

In  this  view,  this  sublime  view  of  our  subject,  its  beauty  will  be  made  more 
manifestly  to  appear  by  comparing  life  to  a  journey  —  a  trite  comparison  't  is 
true,  but  still  correct  —  a  journey  whose  end  is  to  obtain  Ibaven.  whose  home 
is  the  bosom  and  approbation  of  our  God.  In  subordination  to  this  sublime 
design,  the  enjoyments  of  this  world  lose  their  value,  our  disappointments  their 
pangs,  and  our  troubles  the  anxiety  they  are  tooapt  to  occasion  The  world  itself 
loses  us  fancied  importance,  and  becomes  no  further  valuable  than  as  a  prepar- 
ation for  a  better  —  as  an  inn  of  rest  and  refreshment  on  the  road  we  are  trav- 
elling. 

Heaven,  then,  being  our  end  and  aim,  one  would  think  that,  could  we  obtain 
that,  the  shorter  our  journey  thither,  and  th<-  fewer  the  pains  and  troubles  we 
suffer  on  our  journey,  the  better.     Alas!  how  many  an  there  who,  for  the  sake 


166  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

of  a  few  fancied  enjoyments  in  life,  forget  its  design  :  —  as  the  traveller,  enam- 
ored of  the  delights  and  the  luxuries  which  the  inn  may  afford,  enchanted  with 
the  pleasant  scenes  and  beautiful  prospects  which  diversify  his  way,  is  content 
for  these  to  give  up  the  end  of  his  journey,  and  to  loiter  away  that  time  in  idle- 
ness which  should  be  employed  to  some  better  purpose.  To  him,  the  roses  scat- 
tered on  the  wayside,  the  delicious  fragrance  of  the  air,  or  the  perfumes  wafted 
on  the  gale,  the  sight  of  a  few  variegated  scenes  and  richly  cultivated  valleys, 
are  of  more  value  than  home.  Alas!  those  roses  but  conceal  surrounding 
thorns,  those  perfumes  are  but  gales  of  poison,  and  that  valley  is  the  valley  of 
the  shadow  of  death.  And  is  there  nothing  in  moral  life  corresponding  to  this 
situation  of  the  traveller?  There  is,  and  the  most  negligent  observer  could 
point  it  out. 

Life,  then,  being  but  the  journey  of  a  day,  the  shorter  its  continuance,  pro- 
vided we  but  obtain  Heaven  at  last,  the  fewer  the  pains  we  shall  have  to  suffer, 
the  less  the  temptations  we  shall  be  exposed  to,  and  the  happier  we  become  in 
the  end.  Indeed,  when  we  have  once  set  our  minds  seriously  upon  this  great 
aim  of  our  existence,  and  have  well  considered  the  happiness  that  awaits  us 
there,  who  would  not  think  the  time  we  spend  on  earth  a  lengthened  age,  as  it 
bars  us  from  the  joys  of  Heaven  !  It  is  indeed  long,  and  if  it  "answers  life's 
great  end,"  at  the  shortest  time  allotted  it,  it  is  long  enough.  Who  is  there  (I 
speak  of  Christians)  who  would  wish  to  cling  to  this  miserable  load  of  life,  this 
weight  of  troubles  and  cares,  when  Heaven  is  just  bursting  on  our  sight  and 
its  joys  just  brought  in  our  view !  Gain  we  but  that,  and  our  mighty  schemes 
our  deep-laid  plans,  our  dreams  of  power,  of  wealth,  and  of  glory,  where  are 
they  ?  They  will  appear  but  as  the  idle  vagaries  of  a  bewildered  mind,  the 
sickly  dreams  of  a  disturbed  imagination.  The  world  and  all  its  charms,  to 
which  we  once  attached  so  much  importance,  will  then  seem  a  world  of  woe,  a 
Golgotha,  a  chaos  of  confusion. 

In  this  manner,  then,  we  are  to  consider  death  as  the  gate  which  conducts  us 
into  our  native  city,  as  the  threshold  of  the  door  which  admits  us  under  our 
paternal  roof.  So  far  from  considering  our  exit  as  a  matter  of  lamentation  and 
mourning,  it  should  be  hailed  as  the  friendly  hand  which  sets  us  free  from  the 
bondage  of  sorrow  and  trouble,  from  a  world  of  misery  and  woe.  With  what 
fervor  of  piety  and  with  what  sincerity  of  disposition  ought  we  then  to  prepare 
ourselves  for  a  seat  in  Heaven,  for  the  company  of  God,  and  the  society  of 
angels !  Instead  of  sitting  down  in  Laodicean  lukewarmness  or  stoical  indiffer- 
ence, contented  with  the  pittance  of  pleasure  this  world  can  afford,  we  should 
look  for  a  better;  and  our  warmest  aspirations  of  praise  to  God  should  be 
breathed  when  death  sets  us  free  from  our  mortal  coil,  and  we  are  ushered  into 
the  presence  of  Him,  with  whom  to  dwell  is  life  everlasting. 

INDOLENCE. 
BY  PHILANDER  CHASE,  Jun.,  MARCH  6,  1817. 

The  sun  had  gone  down  and  the  night  was  advanced, 
When  as  slumbering  I  lay  on  my  pillow  reclined, 

And  by  the  sweet  visions  of  fancy  entranced, 
I  pictured  the  form  of  the  "  indolent  mind." 

I  beheld  him  lie  stretched  on  a  couch  at  his  ease, 
Unheeding  the  time  that  flew  swift  as  the  wind  j 

Despising  the  joys  of  the  fresh  morning  breeze, 

Till  the  sun  mounted  high,  lay  the  « indolent  mind." 

I  marked  as  he  rose  from  his  soft,  downy  bed, 

No  employment  or  labor  for  him  seemed  destined ; 

In  his  eye  no  expression  of  fire  could  be  read ; 
No  affection,  or  joy  had  the  « indolent  mind." 


BISHOP     CHASE'S     REMINISCENCES.  167 

At  times,  it  is  true,  would  the  crimson  of  shame, 
"With  the  paleness  of  sleep,  on  his  cheek  be  combined ; 

But  the  blush  left  the  cheek  unreformed  as  it  came, 
And  shame  had  no  power  o'er  the  "indolent  mind." 

Exertion  seemed  gone  ;  all  his  powers  were  lost  ■ 

To  the  demon  of  indolence  all  were  resigned, 
"Who  all  his  resolves  and  fair  purposes  crossed, 

And  with  poppies  of  sleep  strewed  the  "  indolent  mind." 

Disgusted  I  turned  from  so  loathsome  a  view ; 

To  oblivion  my  dream  I  would  then  have  consigned, 
But  the  vision  now  changed  to  a  different  hue, 

And  a  fairer  form  gave  to  the  "  indolent  mind." 

A  maiden  in  beauty  resplendent  arrayed, 

From  whose  countenance  banished  seemed  mis'ry  and  care 
As,  pleased,  she  her  beauty  and  figure  surveyed, 

Presented  the  form  of  the  "indolent  fair." 

In  the  mirror  reflected  her  person  she  viewed, 
And  adored  the  bright  object  presented  her  there  ; 

Though  on  time's  fleetest  pinions  hour  hour  pursued, 
Yet  careless  of  aught  was  the  "  indolent  fair." 

No  thought  but  of  self  ever  dwelt  in  her  mind, 
Save  perchance  of  some  lover  entrapped  in  her  snare  • 

Possessed  not  her  bosom  a  care  for  mankind, 
No  pity,  or  love  had  the  "  indolent  fair." 

If  in  garments  of  splendor  her  form  she  could  deck, 
Or  adjust  the  nice  curls  of  her  fine  flowing  hair, 

"What  woes  others  suffered  she  little  would  reck, 
So  enrapt  in  dear  self  was  the  "indolent  fair." 

The  opinions  of  others  she  heard  with  disdain, 

Nor  would  ever  the  robes  of  humanity  wear  ; 
Mid  the  rest  of  her  foibles  pride  mingled  in  train, 

Self  only  had  charms  for  the  "  indolent  fair." 

The  pleasures  which  wait  upon  Industry's  hand, 
Employment  which  saves  from  the  pangs  of  despair, 

And  Cheerfulness'  self,  with  her  countenance  bland, 
Brought  no  source  of  joy  to  the  "indolent  fair." 

"  Oh !  save  me,"  I  cried,  as  I  turned  from  the  view ; 

"From  the  demon  of  indolence,  pity  and  save  ;" 
Then  Fancy  the  airy-built  forms  overthrew, 

As  other  fair  dreams  and  sweet  visions  she  gave. 

It  would  be  inconsistent  with  the  plan  of  these  Reminis- 
cences to  extract  more  of  his  writings,  or  go  further  into  the 
history  of  the  collegiate  life  of  this  dear  youth.  What  has 
been  exhibited  is  sufficient  to  show  the  fragrance  of  the  flower 
which  God  had  caused  to  bud  and  blossom,  for  a  little  while, 
in  the  garden  of  his  Church  here  below,  before  transplanting 
it  to  the  heavenly  Kden.  To  tell  how  dearly  this  rose  of 
Sharon  was  cherished  in  the  bosom  of  tin-  writer,  and  how  it 


168  bishop   chase's  reminiscences. 

shed  its  sweetness  around  his  thorny  path,  would  be  here 
irrelevant.  It  will  be  sufficient  to  state,  that  he  passed  with 
great  credit  through  his  collegiate  course,  and  was  in  his 
senior  year  when  his  father  left  the  eastern  for  the  western 
states.  Such  was  his  moral  and  religious  deportment  that  he 
was  admitted  a  lay  reader,  and  a  candidate  for  holy  orders, 
under  the  supervision  of  Bishop  Griswold,  This  was  done  at 
the  instance  of  Commodore  McDonough,  who  had  for  some 
time  past  known  his  pious  and  manly  character,  and  being 
well  assured  of  his  competent  learning,  had  made  application 
to  him  to  become  a  teacher  on  board  the  Guerriere, — of  which 
vessel  he  had  the  command, — and  go  with  him  to  Russia,  and 
thence  to  the  Mediterranean  Sea,  in  the  place  and  with  the  pay 
of  a  chaplain. 

Few  officers  ever  united  the  character  of  piety  and  bravery 
more  intimately  than  Commodore  McDonough.  It  was  this 
truth,  known  for  several  years  past  by  young  Mr.  Chase,  (for 
his  father  had  prepared  and  presented  the  Commodore  for  con- 
firmation in  Hartford,)  that  caused  him  to  accept  an  offer  of 
such  great  importance  while  yet  so  young.  He  knew  he 
would  be  sustained  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty  of  inculcating 
religion  in  the  hearts  of  the  officers  and  men  of  the  frigate,  by 
the  authority  of  a  pious  commander. 

Before  going  on  board,  he  obtained  leave  to  visit  his  uncle 
and  other  friends  in  Randolph  and  Bethel,  Vermont,  where  he 
was  born.     On  this  occasion  he  wrote  the  following :  — 

MY  NATIVE   LAND. 
BY  PHILANDER  CHASE,  Jcn.,  NOV.  6,  1817. 

I  saw  the  tall  cliffs  of  the  land  of  my  birth, 

I  saw  its  green  valleys  so  peaceful  and  calm, 
I  beheld  the  most  pleasant  retreat  upon  earth, 

Whose  waters  were  crystal,  whose  breezes  were  balm  : 
Its  mountains  were  clothed  with  perennial  green, 
"With  flowery  vales  and  rich  meadows  between  ; 
Its  skies  were  as  pure  as  the  thought  of  a  child, 
And  the  scenes  it  afforded  romantic  and  wild. 

I  gazed  with  a  rapture  ecstatic  around : 

The  scenes  of  my  infancy  rose  to  my  view ; 
The  land  of  the  blessed  I  thought  I  had  found, 

And  returned  to  live  over  my  childhood  anew. 
The  mount  which  received  the  first  tinges  of  light, 
And  reflected  the  last  of  the  sunbeams  at  night, 
Which  bore  on  its  breast  the  dark  and  the  rain, 
Seemed  to  welcome  me  back  to  my  country  again. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  169 

A  country  where  freedom  runs  frolic  and  gay ; 

"Where  the  peasant  is  bold  as  its  mountainous  height, 
Which,  though  lightnings  around  it  forever  may  play, 

Preserves  its  tall  form,  still  undaunted,  upright : 
But  when  touched  with  a  tale  of  a  sorrow  sincere, 
Sheds  down  his  rough  cheek  as  refulgent  a  tear, 
And  as  pure  as  a  drop  of  the  gurgling  tide, 
That  dashes  to  earth  from  the  mountain's  rough  side. 

But  woman,  dear  woman !  the  rapturous  glow 

Of  the  poet's  most  fervid  and  exquisite  line, 
"Were  insipid  and  colder  than  tempest-wreathed  snow, 

Compared  with  the  fair  hallowed  charms  that  are  thine. 
The  maid  of  the  cot  on  the  mountain's  projection 
Seems  to  catch  from  the  heavens  an  angel's  perfection. 
Seems  to  breathe  the  pure  air  of  a  region  above, 
An  air  that  is  hallowed  by  virtue  and  love. 

Let  the  lords  of  the  earth  domineer  o'er  the  plains, 

And  drive  the  lone  slave  to  his  task  and  his  woes, 
Let  him  stop  his  dull  ear  when  his  victim  complains, 

And  exult  if  he  can  in  the  pain  he  bestows  : 
But  mine  be  the  land  that  is  rugged  and  bold, 
"Where  nothing  but  mirth-making  winter  is  cold ; 
"Where  the  warmth  of  the  heart  can  the  winter  defy, 
When  fired  by  the  glance  from  a  maiden's  bright  eye. 

Ever  dear  native  land !  though  the  ocean  may  sever 

A  child  from  the  bosom,  't  will  never  destroy 
The  attachment  I  feel,  and  will  feel  for  thee  ever, 

Though  the  sport  of  alternate  fear,  sorrow  and  joy. 
Now  gay  be  thy  meadows,  and  green  be  thy  hills, 
And  clear  be  thy  fountains  and  murmuring  rills ; 
And  mighty  thy  strength  as  the  whirl  of  the  storm, 
But  gentle  as  beauty's  most  ravishing  form. 

He  carried  with  him,  as  he  hade  adieu  to  his  native  shores, 
the  prayers  and  good  wishes  of  all  who  knew  him. 

"In  this  voyage,"  says  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rutledge,  of  Charles- 
ton, South  Carolina,  in  his  obituary  sermon,  printed  in  1824, 
"he  had  opportunities  of  visiting  many  cities  in  the  north  of 
Europe,  as  well  as  Rome,  that  city  of  palaces,  where  he  re- 
mained some  time,  and  to  tread  the  classic  shores  of  the  Med- 
iterranean with  the  feelings  of  a  Christian  and  a  scholar.  The 
performance  of  his  duties,  in  one  of  the  most  difficult  of  all 
stations  for  a  youth  not  yet  twenty,  Avas  much  assisted  by  his 
having  for  a  commander,  among  the  officers  of  his  ship,  one  in 
whose  heart  was  the  spirit  of  the  Lord.  That  his  labors  were 
valuable  and  beneficial  on  board  the  frigate,  the  writer  has 
often  heard  his  commanding  officer  declare."  This  is  the  tes- 
timony of  a  clergyman  well  known  and  highly  esteemed,  now 
gone  to  his  rest. 

15 


170  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

Young  Mr.  Chase  came  home  in  ill  health ;  and  after  suffer- 
ing some  months  at  his  uncle's  in  Vermont,  and  partially- 
recovering  his  health,  joined  his  father  in  Ohio.  This  was  in 
March,  1820.    With  what  joy  this  meeting  was  attended  need 

not  be  told. 

An  enemy  to  idleness,  he  sought  immediate  employment, 
and  took  charge  of  the  school  in  Worthington,  and  greatly 
assisted  his  father  in  his  endeavors  to  instruct  the  rising  gen- 
eration. He  was  ordained  deacon  in  June,  1820,  and  thence- 
forward took  his  station  as  a  faithful  preacher  of  the  word. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THIRD   YEAR    OF   THE    CHURCH   IN   OHIO THE    LITTLE   SQUARE   BOOK 

DOMESTIC    EMBARRASSMENTS. 

In  the  year  1820  the  Rev.  Thomas  Osborne  came  into  Ohio, 
with  letters  dismissory  from  Bishop  Bowen,  of  South  Carolina, 
and  was  appointed  professor  of  the  learned  languages  in  the 
college  at  Cincinnati. 

The  address  of  the  Bishop  this  year  to  the  convention  par- 
took of  the  nature  of  a  charge  both  to  the  clergy  and  laity. 
Its  length  admits  only  of  a  short  extract ;  and  because  it  is 
peculiarly  applicable  to  the  present  times,  it  is  taken  from  that 
part  which  relates  to  the  duties  of  the  laity  in  support  of  the 
clergy. 

"My  discourse  to  my  brethren,  the  clergy,  is  finished.  I 
have  now  a  few  words  to  say  to  the  laity. 

"  In  listening  to  what  has  been  said  to  the  clergy,  you,  my 
brethren  of  the  laity,  must  have  perceived  its  amazing  impor- 
tance. Ask  then  yourselves,  from  whence  this  importance 
arises  ?  Does  it  not  arise,  principally,  from  the  value  of  your 
own  souls  ?  And  are  you  not  concerned  in  their  salvation  ? 
Will  all  the  efforts  of  the  clergy  be  of  any  avail,  without  your 
cooperation?  Like  the  hands  in  the  natural  body,  they  are 
the  ministers  to  give  you  the  food  of  eternal  life ;  but  if  you 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  171 

will  not  receive  it  when  offered,  who  is  answerable  if  the 
members  perish?  Like  the  knees,  they  are  at  the  altar  to 
bow  and  pray  for  you ;  but  if  you  will  not  bring  gifts  to  sup- 
port God's  Church,  above  all,  the  offerings  of  broken  spirits 
and  contrite  hearts,  what  can  they  do  but  save  their  own  souls 
alive,  in  the  day  of  visitation  1 

"  I  say,  therefore,  —  and  I  say  it  because  I  am  bound  to  de- 
clare the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus, — that  all  who  hope  to  be  saved 
by  the  gospel,  must  help  to  maintain  that  gospel.  If  God  has 
seen  fit  to  establish  a  Church,  and  constitute  its  officers,  those 
who  receive  th,e  benefits  thereof*  must  help  to  maintain  it,  and 
them,  or  they  must  be  content  to  have  no  part  nor  lot  in  this 
matter.  Under  the  Mosaic  dispensation,  God  made  ample 
provision  for  the  support  of  his  Church ;  and,  under  the  gospel 
dispensation,  the  nature  of  the  thing  remaining  the  same,  the 
duties  required  from  his  people,  though  the  mode  of  rendering 
them  may  be  more  discretionary,  are  the  same. 

"'Do  ye  not  know,'  said  the  apostle  to  the  Corinthian 
Christians — 'Do  ye  not  know  that  they  which  minister  about 
holy  things,  live  of  the  things  of  the  temple  ?  And  they  which 
wait  at  the  altar,  are  partakers  with  the  altar?  Even  so  the 
Lord  ordained  that  they  which  preach  the  gospel  should  live 
of  the  gospel.'  This  point,  then,  is  clear  beyond  all  dispute ; 
and  if  it  be  stated  to  you  under  circumstances  which  admit  no 
possibility  of  any  sinister  or  selfish  motive,  it  ought  to  be  urged 
with  a  manly  ardor  becoming  its  importance.  That  these  are 
the  circumstances  of  the  person  now  addressing  you,  is  known 
unto  you  all.  Having,  through  the  long  course  of  twenty-two 
years'  ministry,  procured  more  than  one  half  of  his  subsist- 
ence, and  that  of  his  family,  from  the  arduous  employment  of 
educating  youth;  having  left  situations  much  more  lucrative 
than  his  present  one,  and  come  among  you  under  the  aid  of 
no  charitable  institution,  and  when  here,  with  his  own  hands 
having  ministered  and  still  ministering  to  his  own  necessities; 
[f  he  cannot  urge  this  with  a  becoming  freedom,  tor  the  ben- 
efit of  God's  Church,  for  the  love  of  his  deal  brethren  in  the 
ministry,  and  for  the  good  of  souls,  it  is  hard  to  say,  who  can. 

"Time  there  was  when  the  ministers  of  <'hrist  were  main- 
tained hy  the  gifts  and  offerings  at  the  Christian  altar:  when 


172  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

Churches  were  richly  endowed,  and  institutions  of  learning 
were  founded,  by  the  pious  oblations  at  the  altar  of  Christ ; 
and  from  these  holy  fountains  have  issued  nearly  all  the 
streams  of  religious  and  moral  science  which  now  fertilize  the 
Christian  world.  These  sources,  as  respects  this  country,  are 
dried  up  ;  and  not  only  institutions  of  learning,  but  the  clergy 
themselves,  are  dependent  on  the  personal  and  immediate 
munificence  of  each  individual  Christian.  What  will  be  the 
result,  time  will  show.  If  the  laity  had  reason  to  complain 
that  the  clergy  made  a  bad  use  of  their  privileges,  let  them 
now  show  that  they  fall  not  into  like  error  themselves.  God 
is  as  much  the  proprietor  of  the  wealth  of  the  world,  when  in 
the  hands  of  the  laity,  as  when  in  those  of  the  clergy.  In 
both  cases,  the  possessors  are  but  stewards  ;  the  use  of  that 
wealth,  for  the  purposes  of  virtue  and  religion,  God  will 
require  of  both." 

The  duty  of  travel  was  performed  as  usual  throughout  the 
diocese,  sermons  preached,  and  the  holy  communion  admin- 
istered in  all  places,  and  the  confirmations  amounted  to  two 
hundred  and  forty.  At  the  close  of  the  conventional  address 
there  is  the  following :  — 

"On  the  6th  day  of  June,  1819,  the  Sunday  following  the 
adjournment  of  this  convention,  I  admitted  to  the  holy  order 
of  deacons,  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Birge,  of  Lexington,  Kentucky. 
We  have  lately  received  the  painful  intelligence  of  his  decease. 
We  cannot  refrain  from  giving  vent  to  our  feelings  in  a  few 

words. 

"From  his  recommendations  to  the  ecclesiastical  authority 
of  this  diocese,  as  well  as  from  the  universal  report  of  his 
amiable  and  pious  manners,  joined  to  his  respectable  examina- 
tion on  the  subjects  of  theology,  and  his  correct  deportment 
while  among  us,  we  had  reason  to  esteem  and  love  him. 
The  Church  at  large,  and  especially  that  portion  of  our  primi- 
tive Zion  this  side  the  mountains,  had  good  cause  to  rejoice  in 
the  mild  influence  which  his  example  and  correct  principles 
would  shed  o'er  her  prospects.  The  morn  of  his  life  was 
clear  and  the  sky  serene,  and  we  did  hope  to  see  its  meridian 
splendid  and  full  of  good  fruits ;  but  the  shades  of  night,  the 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  173 

night  of  the  grave,  have  intervened ;  he  is  taken  from  our 
view  and  sleeps  with  his  fathers.     Fond  memory,  however, 
does  not  so  soon  leave  him :  we  mark  his  youthful  footsteps, 
recall  to  our  minds  his  words,  and  linger  on  the  places  where 
he  gave   evidence  of  a  renewed   heart  and  Christian  zeal. 
From  all  these,  we  learn  our  present  loss  and  his  gain ;  that 
while  we  mourn,  he  rejoices;   and  that,  though  our  infant 
Church  in  the  west  feels  the  loss  of  this  excellent  young  man, 
yet  we  have  sufficient  proof  of  his  present  blessedness,  to 
make  us  dry  our  tears,  and  stifle  every  wish  that  he  had  con- 
tinued longer  among  us.     Besides  this,  our  faith  lays  our 
resignation  on  the  broad  principle  of  the  infinite  wisdom  and 
goodness  of  God ;  that  though  '  his  way  is  in  the  waters,  and 
his  footsteps  are  not  known,'  yet  whatever  he  doeth  is  just, 
right,  and  good ;  and,  if  improved  aright,  all  his  dispensations 
shall  turn  out  for  the  good  of  those  who  love  and  obey  him." 

THE    LITTLE    SQUARE    BOOK. 

While  the  writer  was  at  Portsmouth,  Ohio,  administering 
the  rite  of  confirmation,  a  man  presented  himself  from  a  neigh- 
boring settlement,  who  wished  to  receive  the  benefit  of  that 
and  other  ordinances  of  our  primitive  Church.  As  he  seemed 
acquainted  with  many  things  pertaining  to  the  mode  of  wor- 
ship used,  he  was  asked,  whence  he  had  learned  the  nature 
and  constitution  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  so  as  to  distinguish 
its  institutions  from  those  of  the  world  and  mere  human  socie- 
ties? 

His  reply  was,  that  he  had  gotten  his  information  from  a 
"little  square  book,"  which  had  lost  its  title-page,  the  name 
of  its  author,  and  the  place  of  its  being  printed.  All  he 
knew  of  it  was,  that  he  had  met  with  it  many  years  ago  in 
Vermont,  and  had  brought  it  with  him  to  ( >ln<>.  and  since  here 
had  read  it  over  many  times  and  compare!  it  with  the  Bible, 
and  liked  it  well.  When  further  questioned,  it  was  made  to 
appear  that  this  little  square  book,  from  which  lie  had  learned 
rightly  to  distinguish  between  the  world  and  the  Church, 
between  God's  appointments  and  human  ordinances,  was 
none  other  than  a  copy  of  an  Essay  on  the  church,  composed 
by  the  Rev.  William  Jones,  of  tyayland,  England,  which  the 

15*" 


174  bishop   chase's    REMINISCENCES, 

Rev.  J.  C.  Ogden  had  caused  to  be  printed,  by  an  act  of  un- 
common self-denial,  in  1794. 

If  the  reverend  and  learned  author  of  this  essay,  and  his 
noble  pupil,  Lord  Kenyon,  who  admired  it,  and  Bishop  Hors- 
ley,  who  warmly  recommended  it  to  the  clergy  of  his  diocese, 
could  have  known  the  facts  of  this  simple  story,  and  its  good 
effects  in  the  wild  woods  of  America,  would  not  their  hearts 
have  been  moved?  Let  the  reader  refer  back  to  the  facts,  as 
stated,  concerning  the  republishing  of  this  little  tract  in  the 
states  of  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont.  To  spread  the  light 
of  primitive  truth,  a  clergyman  becomes  a  voluntary  mission- 
ary— preaches  the  gospel  in  connection  with  apostolic  order 
— exhausts  all  his  funds  but  just  enough  to  purchase  a  new 
coat,  and,  just  as  he  is  going  to  do  so,  providentially  reads 
"Jones'  Essay  on  the  Church,"  and  for  the  love  of  God  and 
the  souls  of  men,  lays  out  all  his  store  to  pay  the  printer  for  a 
new  edition.  The  " widow 's  mite"  was  her  all;  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Ogden  gave  his;  in  this  they  were  alike.  Not  so  those,  who 
of  their  abundance  give  a  little,  and  grudge  even  that. 

That  God  blessed  these  days  of  small  things,  and  thereby 
saved  the  souls  of  thousands,  the  writer  has  abundant  evi- 
dence to  believe. 


DOMESTIC    EMBARRASSMENTS. 

It  was  in  the  fall  of  1820  or  the  winter  of  1821,  when  his 
son  had  gone  to  the  Atlantic  states,  that  the  writer  experienced 
some  of  the  most  painful  hours  in  his  life ;  and  yet  those  hours, 
strange  to  tell,  as  he  now  looks  back  upon  them,  were  most 
prolific  of  future  good. 

Returning  home  from  diocesan  visitations,  his  voice  nearly 
failing  him  from  much  speaking,  he  found  little  ease  to  his 
body  or  mind.  Three  parishes  were  to  be  supplied,  two  of 
them  nearly  fifteen  miles  distant  from  Worthington,  his  place 
of  residence.  At  home,  though  thus  far  well  conducted,  things 
had  but  a  poor  prospect  in  regard  to  the  coming  winter ;  for 
there  was  not  a  dollar  left,  after  satisfying  the  hired  man  for 
the  past,  wherewithal  to  engage  him  for  the  future ;  and  as 
for  making  promises  when  there  was  no  prospect  of  making 
payment,  such  had  ever  been  regarded  in  the  writer's  family 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  175 

as  a  sin.  The  hired  man  was  then,  from  a  principle  of  duty, 
discharged.  The  result  was  inevitable ;  the  writer  must  do 
what  the  man  would,  if  retained,  have  done;  i.  e.,  thresh  the 
grain,  haul  and  cut  the  wood,  build  the  fires,  and  feed  the 
stock;  all  this  must  be  done  besides  the  care  of  the  Churches. 
The  whole  was  deemed  a  part  of  the  Christian  warfare,  from 
which  there  was  no  discharge.  And  had  this  been  all,  the 
burden  which  it  imposed  would  have  been  tolerable  indeed, 
compared  with  what  the  writer  suffered  in  his  mind. 

When  these  troubles  came  upon  him,  there  arose  in  his 
breast  a  secret  doubt,  whether  he  had  done  right  in  accepting 
the  Episcopate  of  Ohio,  in  the  absence  of  all  appropriations  to 
support  the  Bishop.  This  doubt  preyed  on  his  mind  like  a 
worm  at  the  core.  It  gave  birth  to  the  excruciating  appre- 
hension, that  the  present  distress  was  intended  as  a  punish- 
ment of  past  errors,  and  an  exemplification  of  the  disgrace  to 
the  Church  of  Christ,  which  his  own  want  of  prudence  had 
caused. 

It  hardly  occurred  that  his  case  could  be  assimilated  to  that 
of  the  apostles.  They  exercised  sober  reason  as  well  as  an 
enlightened  faith  in  the  promises  of  God;  while  his  case 
seemed  one  of  temerity.  The  oblations  in  their  days  main- 
tained the  chief  ministers  at  the  altar,  as  well  as  fed  the  poor. 
The  Bishops  then  could  have  reason  firmly  to  believe  that 
God  would  support  them  ;  that  in  becoming  "  fishers  of  men," 
they  should  not  want  what  men  require  to  lteep  them  from 
starving,  —  the  necessary  comforts  of  life.  They  could  then 
say,  with  holy  consistency,  "  It  is  not  reason  that  we  should 
leave  the  word  of  God  and  serve  tables."  But  now  the  case 
was  altered;  the  writer  saw  himself  obliged  to  leave  the 
higher  duties  of  his  calling,  to  serve  "  stables" 

The  consequence  of  this  fact,  done  in  the  face  of  the  salu- 
tary rules  of  the  Church,  that  "no  ordained  clergyman  shall 
condescend  to  menial  and  servile  employments,"  might  well 
be  supposed  to  create  an  agonizing  pang  in  his  breast,  for 
which  there  is  no  name.  The  day  wras  consumed  in  toils  of 
the  body  ;  but  the  reflections  of  the  night  season  were  still 
more  intolerable.  Add  to  this  the  consequent  necessarily 
following  this  mode  of  life,  being  seldom  prepared  duly  to  dis- 


176  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

charge  his  public  duties  of  rightly  dividing  the  word  of  God. 
Often  did  his  heart  sink  within  him  at  the  thought  of  being 
obliged  to  daub  with  untempered  mortar,  in  trying  to  build 
the  spiritual  temple  of  God. 

In  reflecting  on  this  circumstance,  he  cannot  but  apostro- 
phize. Let  those  who  have  time  to  study  bless  God  for  so 
precious  a  privilege,  and  manifest  their  gratitude  by  improving 
it.  Let  them  remember  it  is  a  "  talent"  of  which  the  Royal 
Giver  will  require  the  "  usury."  The  empty-pated,  pretended 
minister  of  Christ,  who  vainly  thinks  God  will  help  him  in 
the  delivery,  to  make  amends  for  his  own  idleness  in  studying 
his  sermon,  has  more  to  answer  for  in  the  day  of  judgment 
than  he  may  now  imagine.  To  talk  of  being  inspired,  or, 
which  is  the  same  thing,  to  say  that  "  God  puts  words  into 
his  mouth,"  while  he  neglects  the  means  appointed  to  be 
rightly  instructed  in  God's  word,  so  as  to  preach  it  to  the 
conversion  of  the  soul,  is  little  less  than  profane.  But  to 
return. 

During  the  time  of  these  perplexing  cares  and  thoughts,  the 
writer  received  a  letter  from  his  friend  in  Boston,  filled  with 
expressions  of  great  kindness  and  solicitude  for  his  welfare, 
and  making  many  inquiries  concerning  his  own  health  and 
the  prosperity  of  his  diocese.  It  seemed  to  take  for  granted, 
that  the  Bishop  of  Ohio  was  comfortably  supported,  while  it 
desired  to  know  how  his  salary  was  raised — whether  by  a 
fund,  or  by  an  annual  tax,  or  voluntary  subscription.  The 
whole  was  well  written,  and  read  over  more  than  once. 

For  the  honor  of  the  Church,  the  feelings  of  the  writer 
leaned  to  the  side  of  concealment,  and  this  inclined  him  to 
throw  the  letter  aside,  and  give  play  to  fancy  as  to  what  were 
the  motives  of  his  friend  in  writing  this  letter  and  making 
these  inquiries.  In  canvassing  these,  the  honorable  character 
of  his  friend  excluded  everything  but  those  of  the  purest 
friendship ;  an  answer  of  candor  and  affection  was  evidently 
required.  It  gave  a  history  of  the  past,  and  depicted  the 
present  condition  of  the  diocese,  and  its  suffering  diocesan. 
Being  addressed  to  a  friend,  and  with  an  indurated  hand,  it 
was  badly  written  ;  and  but  for  the  facts  it  contained,  was  not 
deserving  of  notice.     The  reader  may  hear  of  this  hereafter. 


bishop    chase's   reminiscences.  177 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 

FOURTH  AND  FIFTH  YEAR  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  OHIO. 

■ 

It  would  surprise  many  to  see  the  full  account  of  what  was 
done  with  a  single  laborer  or  two  in  the  year  of  1820,  in  the 
almost  wilderness  of  Ohio.     Even  he  who  was  the  instrument, 
and,  by  the  grace  of  God,  performed  the  labor,  can  hardly 
believe  his  own  record.     Like  a  dream  when  one  awaketh,  of 
troubles  that  are  past,  —  the  vast  distances  of  journeyings  on 
horseback,  under  the  burning  sun  and  pelting  rain — through 
the  mud  and  amid  the  beech-roots — o'er  the  log  bridges  and 
through  the  swollen  streams,  —  it  seems  all  like  a  dream,  the 
main  features  of  which  have  been  obliterated  by  the  painful 
circumstances  which  have  intervened  between  the  present  and 
that  distant  period.     Yet  dream  as  it  seems,  the  reperusal 
retraces  its  features  on  the  conscious  mind,  and  kindles  anew 
the  name  of  faith  and  love  divine  which  prompted  all.     Great 
God  of  wisdom !  it  is  thy  will  that  one  should  labor  and 
another  should  reap  the  harvest — even  so.     Amen.     There  is 
no  true  enjoyment  till  all  are  in  the  eternal  garner  gathered. 

With  this  reflection  the  writer  refers  the  Christian  reader  to 
the  Journal   of  the   Convention  of  the   Diocese,    giving   an 
account  of  the  writer's  proceedings  from  June,  1820,  to  June 
1821,  inclusive. 

At  this  time,  there  were  but  six  clergymen  in  the  diocese. 
In  many  places,  therefore,  there  was  no  pastor  to  prepare  and 
present  candidates  for  confirmation.     Yet  the  following  is  an 
imperfect  summary  of  the  labors  of  this  year : 

Travelled  on  horseback,    .         .         .       1279  miles. 
Confirmed,         .....         174 

Baptized,  ......  50 

Preached,  ......         182 

At  the  close  of  his  address  at  the  annual  convention,  is 
found  the  following : 

"  Brethren  and  Gentlemen  of  this  Convention  :  — 

"  If  from  the  subject  now  laid  before  you,  there  should  be  a 
conviction  in  your  minds,  as  there  is  in  mine,  that  the  Church 


178  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

cannot  prosper,  and  hardly  exist,  west  of  the  mountains,  and 
particularly  in  this  state,  without  the  aid  of  more  laborers  than 
we  can  either  prepare,  send  forth  or  support,  the  way  and 
means  to  obtain  relief  are  the  proper  subjects  of  our  considera- 
tion.    For  this  purpose  I  recommend  — 

"  1st.  The  formation  of  a  Diocesan  Missionary  Society 
among  ourselves,  that  the  hands  of  all  may  be  joined  in  doing 
what  we  can. 

"2d.  That  an  address,  stating  the  urgency  of  the  case,  be 
framed,  and,  by  a  person  duly  authorized,  be  presented  per- 
sonally to  the  Rt.  Rev.  the  Bishops,  praying  not  only  for  min- 
isters, but  for  liberty  to  solicit  the  several  congregations  and 
individuals  throughout  their  respective  dioceses,  for  means  to 
support  them. 

"  3d.  That  you  do  join  in  recommending  the  appointment 
of  a  day  of  humiliation,  fasting  and  prayer,  in  which  all  the 
members  of  our  communion  throughout  this  diocese  may,  as 
in  duty  bound,  assemble  themselves  together  in  their  respective 
places  of  public  worship,  confess  their  sins,  implore  mercy  and 
forgiveness  of  Almighty  God,  our  Heavenly  Father,  and 
entreat  his  grace  to  amend  their  lives  according  to  his  holy 
word.  In  which,  also,  they  may  more  particularly  beseech 
the  Great  Head  of  the  Church,  to  take  pity  on  that  part  of  his 
mystical  body  which  he  has  begun  to  rear  in  this  western 
country — that  he  would  guard  and  protect  it  from  the  power 
of  the  enemy — that  he  would  not  leave  it  comfortless,  to  per- 
ish for  the  lack  of  heavenly  food ;  but  send  forth  and  maintain 
faithful  ministers,  to  guide,  foster  and  feed  it,  lest  it  become, 
even  now  in  its  infant  state,  extinct,  and  be  no  more  seen. 

The  last  Friday  in  August  was  the  day  appointed  for  fast- 
ing and  prayer.  The  writer's  son,  Philander,  then  in  deacon's 
orders,  was  selected  to  bear  the  address  to  the  Bishops  and 
make  a  personal  application  for  aid.  This  duty  he  performed, 
and  though  the  claims  of  the  General  Missionary  Society  were 
then  being  urged,  he  returned  with  $2910.19. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  179 

removes  to  cincinnati. 

In  the  June  convention  of  the  diocese  of  Ohio  for  1S22,  there 
was  a  pastoral  letter  delivered  by  the  Bishop  and  address 
made,  both  of  which  are  printed  in  the  journals.  By  the 
statements  in  the  latter  it  may  be  seen,  that  the  writer  was 
taken  sick  and  confined  by  a  violent  fever,  at  the  house  of  Mr. 
Putnam,  a  few  miles  north  of  Marietta.  This  was  of  so  long 
continuance  as  to  derange  all  his  appointments  throughout  the 
diocese.  He  returned  home  in  a  feeble  state  of  health,  but  at 
Whitsunday  was  well  enough  to  confirm  eighteen  persons,  and 
in  the  month  of  August  to  go  down  the  Scioto  river,  consecrate 
St.  Paul's  Church  at  Chillicothe,  and  confirm  six  persons  at 
Portsmouth. 

The  Rev.  Ezra  B.  Kellogg,  deacon,  having  been  regularly 
received  into  the  diocese  from  the  Bishop  of  New  York,  was 
stationed  at  Chillicothe.  The  Rev  Spencer  Wall  also  came 
canonically  into  the  diocese,  and  was  stationed  at  Piqua, 
Dayton  and  Springfield.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Morse  went  to  Steu- 
benville,  and  the  writer's  son,  the  Rev.  P.  Chase,  Jun.,  after 
having  performed  his  tour  to  the  eastern  states,  and  a  mis- 
sionary tour  in  the  south  and  east  of  Ohio,  took  charge  of  the 
Church  at  Zanesville. 

Something  was  done  this  year  with  regard  to  forming  a 
fund  for  the  maintaining  of  the  Bishop  some  future  day,  but 
nothing  that  had  the  least  bearing  on  his  present  need  of  sup- 
port. The  present  incumbent  having  failed  in  obtaining  sup- 
port from  his  farm,  thought  himself  obliged  to  accept  an  offer 
made  him  by  the  college  at  Cincinnati,  to  move  to  that  city 
and  take  charge  of  that  institution. 

His  removal  took  place  in  the  fall  of  1821,  after  severe  rains 
and  through  the  worst  of  roads.  Drawing  near  the  Derby 
river,  he  was  benighted,  in  the  woods,  and  being  in  ill  health, 
both  himself  and  family  experienced  the  greatest  distress. 
But  Cod  was  his  support,  and  in  due  time  enabled  him  to 
arrive  in  the  city  and  take  charge  of  the  college.  By  this 
time  th«'  Rev.  Mr.  Osborne  had  left  the  college  and  removed  to 
Edisto  island,  South  Carolina,  and  the  duties  Cell  heavy  on 
the    president.      He  continued   through   the  winter,   and  the 


180  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

next  autumn,  (Sept.  25,  1822,)  held  his  commencement,  and 
delivered  his  baccalaureate  address,  and  conferred  the  degrees 
on  several  promising  youths  of  the  senior  class. 

The  subject  of  the  address  was  the  contrast  of  the  Christian 
religion  and  infidelity,  drawn  from  a  display  of  the  resources 
of  each ;  and  these  appreciated,  not  according  to  conjecture  or 
private  opinion,  but  according  to  what  all  know  and  feel  to  be 
the  woes  and  wants  of  our  common  nature.  At  the  12th  page 
of  this  address,  after  a  regular  discussion,  there  is  the  follow- 
ing conclusion : 

"  Young  Gentlemen: — What  more  reasonable  ground  than 
this  can  be  assumed  to  determine  your  choice  in  that  which 
of  all  others  concerns  you  most, — your  peace  of  mind  in  this, 
and  your  happiness  in  the  eternal  world?  Exposed  to  evil  of 
every  sort  in  your  journey,  and  to  death  in  its  end,  how  ought 
you  to  bless  the  Lord  for  his  goodness  in  making  your  very 
wants  and  woes,  your  miseries,  and  your  death  itself,  plead 
with  you  now,  at  your  commencement  in  life,  to  choose  the 
path  which  in  its  progress  can  afford  the  cure  to  all  the  ills 
you  suffer? 

"Yes,  even  to  you,  though  a  party  concerned,  doth  your 
Maker,  by  his  providence,  make  the  appeal  for  a  decision  in 
favor  of  your  own  temporal  and  eternal  happiness.  Even  you, 
the  children  of  sin  and  sorrow — born  to  trouble — full  of  dis- 
appointment from  the  cradle  to  the  tomb — overloaded  with 
care— agitated  with  anxious  and  even  unavailing  wishes  ;  — 
distracted  with  reflections  on  the  past,  restless  under  the 
present,  and  unable  to  provide  for  the  future  portion  of  your 
life — a  life  which  you  know  to  be  so  short  and  so  uncertain 
in  itself — which  terminates  in  (except  by  revelation)  you 
know  not  what,  save  the  pale  face  of  death  and  the  corruption 
of  the  grave;— even  you,  thus  deeply  interested,  are  per- 
mitted, yea,  exhorted,  to  draw  the  contrast  between  Chris- 
tianity and  infidelity — between  that  which  is  framed  by  the 
hand  of  Heavenly  Mercy  to  obviate  all  your  evils,  and  that 
which  in  life  wipes  not  a  tear  from  your  eyes,  and  in  death 
leaves  you  in  despair. 

"  Who  of  you  that  can  reason,  would  not  here  be  reasona- 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  181 

ble  ?  Who  that  can  feel,  would  not  here  be  moved  1  Who 
that  can  judge,  would  not  here  be  judicious?  Who  that  can 
hope,  would  not  here  repose  himself  on  the  only  rock  where 
hope  can  rest — on  Jesus,  the  Redeemer  of  mankind,  the 
Saviour  of  the  faithful ;  on  Him  who  felt  all  our  sorrows  that 
we  might  be  joyful ;  who  bore  all  our  sins  that  we  might  be 
justified ;  who  died  that  we  might  live ;  and  who  rose  that  we 
might  triumph  o'er  the  grave?  Great  God  of  mercy!  who 
will  not  deserve  his  misery  that  will  not  take  this  way  of 
mercy  to  be  rid  of  it  ? 

"  That  Christianity  has  your  decided  preference  to  all  that 
can  be  offered  to  entice  you  into  the  path  of  infidelity,  is  and 
must  be  presumed.  But  remember  that  your  decision  must 
not  rest  in  your  mind.  In  its  very  nature  it  is  evident  this 
decision  must  from  the  head  proceed  to  the  heart  and  whole 
affections,  or  the  blessings  which  Christianity  holds  out  to 
you  will  be  none  of  yours.  None  can  bear  the  ills  of  life  but 
those  who  realize,  in  their  hearts'  belief,  that  the  hand  which 
imposes  them  is  the  hand  of  mercy;  and  none  who  have  lived 
the  life  of  the  wicked  can  finally  die  the  death  of  the  righteous. 
The  procrastinating,  the  wavering  and  the  lukewarm,  are 
equally  excluded  with  the  open  infidel. 

"  Commence,  then,  the  career  of  life  as  candidates  for  eter- 
nity. Cheered  by  the  bright  prospects  set  before  you  in  the 
world  of  glory,  let  all  the  small  things,  whether  prosperous  or 
adverse,  in  this  be  as  things  beneath  your  feet.  Elevated  by 
Christianity  above  their  influence,  reach  forward  to  the  mark 
of  the  prize  of  your  high  calling.  Whatever  secures  your 
attainment  of  this,  that  and  that  alone  is  worthy  of  your 
efforts;  and  whatever  calls  you  off  from  the  attainment  of 
this,  that  of  all  things  is  to  be  avoided. 

"Young  Gentlemen: — one  word  more  before  we  part. 
Remember  that  however  well-resolved  and  strong  to  pursue 
your  journey  you  may  at  present  feel,  yet  your  resolutions  are 
but  vain  and  your  strength  is  but  weakness,  without  the  hand 
of  God  continually  to  support  you.  To  Him.  therefore,  con- 
tinually look,  in  all  the  vicissitudes  of  life.  In  prosperity 
remember  that  it  is  God  alone  who  gives  it.  In  adversity  'tis 
He  alone  who  orders   it   for   your  benefit     To  Him,   then, 

16 


182  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

address  your  prayer  for  strength  to  bear  the  one  and  the  other. 
Depend  on  Him  in  life,  and  He  will  support  you  in  death. 
Obey  His  voice  in  prosperity,  and  He  will  hear  yours  when 
in  adversity  you  cry  unto  Him  for  help.  Make  Him  your 
friend,  your  father,  and  your  God,  and  He  will  be  your  sun 
and  your  shield  here,  and  hereafter  crown  you  with  eternal 
glory." 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

FIRST    THOUGHTS     OF    GOING     TO    ENGLAND LETTER    TO     THE    BISH- 
OPS  SETS  OFF,   AND  ARRIVES    AT    KINGSTON,    NEW    YORK. 

"  A  little  one  shall  become  a  thousand  and  a  small  one  a  strong  nation." 

The  writer  has  often  been  asked,  "  What  first  of  all  gave 
rise  to  Kenyon  college?"  "  When  was  the  primary  thought 
of  going  abroad  for  means  to  found  the  theological  seminary 
of  Ohio,  allowed  to  enter  and  be  cherished  in  your  mind?" 

The  question  in  the  eyes  of  most  persons  seems  worthy  of 
an  answer ;  for  although  our  thoughts,  like  the  stones  we  tread 
on,  are  of  little  consequence  when  considered  by  themselves, 
yet  when  taken  in  relation  to  other  things,  they  may  become 
of  some  importance ;  and  any  one  of  them  which  happens  to 
become  a  corner-stone  in  laying  the  foundation  of  a  great  and 
useful  institution  of  learning,  especially  of  a  religious  charac- 
ter, connecting  earth  with  heaven,  and  saving  the  souls  of 
thousands,  commands  the  respectful  attention  of  all  good 
men. 

It  was  in  the  evening  preceding  the  day  of  the  convention 
of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Ohio,  some  time  after  dark,  that 
the  writer  was  walking  the  pavement  before  an  inn  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Worthington,  in  anxious  expectation  of  the  arrival  of 
his  son,  the  Rev.  Philander  Chase,  Jun.,  from  Steubenville, 
one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  distant.  Before  the  writer  had 
left  Cincinnati,  they  had  exchanged  letters,  in  which  it  was 
agreed  to  meet  at  Worthington  the  day  before  the  convention. 
But  that  day  had  come ;  its  sun  had  risen  and  set,  and  a 
chilly  night,  unusual  for  June,  had  come  on,  and  his  son  had 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  183 

not  arrived.  How  little  faith  we  seem  to  exercise  when  our 
affections  are  engaged !  The  road  through  the  woods  from 
Granville  was  long,  and  the  path  from  Alum  creek  to  Worth- 
ington  very  muddy ;  for  a  great  proportion  of  the  way  none 
could  ride  out  of  a  walk  or  slow  pace.     This  was  the  reason 

he  did  not  arrive. 

The  moon  shone  through  the  dense,  smoky  atmosphere,  so 
that  his  son  was  not  seen  till  the  stepping  of  his  horse  gave 
notice  of  his  approach.  In  an  instant  he  spoke  and  heard  in 
turn  a  father's  greetings,  and  riding  up  to  the  side-walk,  he 
threw  his  wearied  frame  on  a  parental  bosom.  His  locks 
were  wet  with  the  night  dew;  his  face  was  cold  and  his 
breath  feverish  and  labored;  and  that  moment  witnessed 
pleasure  and  pain  commingled,  as  never  before  experienced  in 

the  writer's  breast. 

The  bed-chamber  had  been  prepared;  a  bright  fire  was 
glowing  on  the  hearth,  and  a  clean  bed  was  waiting  for  the 
invalid ;  and  to  gratify  a  parent's  anxiety,  a  couch  had  been 
made  on  which  he  himself  could  repose  when  watching  by 
his  side.  Silence  and  patient  suffering  were  the  sole  attend- 
ants for  several  hours  in  that  lonely  apartment. 

A  composing  draught  had  been  given,  and  as  his  head  sunk 
on  the  pillow,  the  father  rested  himself  on  the  couch  and 
thought  on  God's  hidden  wisdom  infinite.  All  this  was  liter- 
ally true ;  and  being  so,  was  stamped  on  the  memory  as  the 
engraver  writes  on  steel,  and  it  is  seldom  recollected  without 
the  deepest  emotion.  The  father  sees  his  son  by  the  glimmer- 
ing rays  of  a  night-lamp,  his  face  pale,  yet  bearing  on  his 
cheek  the  hectic  rose;  he  hears  him  breathe,  but  it  is  the 
breath  of  pulmonary  distress ;  and  he  knows  what  followed 
The  anodyne  took  effect:  fallacious  appearances  of  health 
and  fine  spirits  spread  through  all  his  features,  and  for  a  few 
moments  he  awoke   and  was  himself.     He  spoke  and  was 

answered  thus : 

Son,  1  am  thankful,  my  dear  Either,  thai  then  are  some 
in  this  world  who  sympathize  with  OS  in  OUI  sufferings. 

Father,     Who  are  they,  my  son  ! 

Son.  Mr.  Morse,  our  dear  relative,  has  told  me,  that  in 
reading  the  Philadelphia  Recorder,  he  had  seen  an  extract 


184  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

from  the  British  Critic,  a  periodical  published  in  London,  the 
purport  of  which  is  exceedingly  friendly  to  Ohio.  It  takes  a 
review  of  our  Journals  and  of  your  addresses,  and  in  terms  of 
approbation  unusually  warm,  commends  us  to  the  attention 
of  the  public  and  the  grace  of  God. 

Father.     Can  this  be  true  1 

So7i.  Mr.  Morse  says  it  is  a  fact ;  so  that  however  we  are 
neglected  and  scarcely  mentioned  in  America,  our  own  coun- 
try, yet  there  are  those  abroad  who  care  for  us  and  who  pray 
for  us. 

Father.     And  why  not  help  us  too  ? 

Son.     In  what  respect? 

Father.  In  founding  a  seminary  of  learning  for  educating 
ministers. 

So?i.     How  can  such  a  measure  be  brought  to  pass  ? 

Father.     By  applying  to  them  for  aid. 

Son.     And  will  you  do  this? 

Father.  I  will  do  this,  and  you  shall  be  the  person  who 
will  make  the  application. 

So?i.  I  the  person  !  I  am  now  with  one  foot  in  the  grave ; 
how  can  I  go  to  England  ? 

Father.  The  sea  voyage  may  do  you  good.  It  cured  your 
mother,  and  may  be  of  essential  service  to  you. 

Soon  the  patient  dropt  into  a  sweet  sleep.  Not  so  with  his 
father ;  sleep  departed  from  his  eyes,  and  came  not  back  but 
with  disturbed  thoughts  till  morning,  when  the  duties  of  the 
day  required  all  his  attention. 

After  the  close  of  the  convention,  the  writer  requested  all  to 
attend  him  at  an  appointed  place,  for  mutual  counsel.  The 
project,  though  opened  with  great  seriousness  and  the  entreat- 
ing of  divine  direction,  was  at  first  opposed  by  nearly  all.  It 
was  considered  as  visionary,  though  at  last  agreed  to  by  the 
clergy,  and  silent  consent  was  impliedly  given  by  the  laity. 
At  first  there  were  hopes  that  the  writer's  son  would  go ;  but 
at  his  ordination  as  presbyter,  which  took  place  in  a  few  days 
at  Chillicothe,  it  was  seen  he  could  not  go, — two  of  his  fellow- 
presbyters  being  obliged  to  hold  him  up  to  go  through  with 
the  solemn  service.     It  was  then  that  the  great  truth  was 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  185 

realized,  viz.,  that  the  writer  must  put  his  trust  in  God,  and 
go  himself  to  England. 

To  say  how  this  conclusion  filled,  agitated,  and  controlled 
his  bosom,  would  be  impossible.  It  was  like  the  light  pour- 
ing into  a  dark  and  desolate  room ;  it  filled  every  cubic  inch 
with  splendor,  but  it  served  also  to  discover  its  emptiness,  its 
many  imperfections,  and  want  of  all  internal  resources.  Add 
to  this,  there  had  been  no  "correspondence"  with  the  lowest 
officer  in  the  Church  of  England,  much  less  with  any  whose 
influence  might  open  a  door  to  hope  for  success ;  all  the  draw- 
ers of  his  cabinet  in  this  respect  were  also  empty,  and  as  to 
that  which  contained  the  treasure  requisite  to  bear  his  ex- 
penses in  so  long  and  hazardous  a  voyage,  it  had  little  in  it. 
From  the  estate  of  his  uncle,  March  Chase,  of  Sutton,  lately 
deceased,  there  was  something  left  to  each  of  the  numerous 
heirs,  and  himself  among  the  rest ;  a  friend  or  two  also  might 
lend  or  give  him  a  little ;  in  all  not  exceeding  four  or  five  hun- 
dred dollars.  This  might  take  him  "to  the  haven  where  he 
would  be,"  but  no  further.  All  beyond  that  was  a  dark  cloud 
which  no  eye  could  penetrate.  Here  the  same  angel  of  prom- 
ise which  had  sustained  him  in  first  setting  off  for  Ohio,  and 
which  came  to  him  when  contemplating  the  eagles  on  the 
mountains  of  ice  on  lake  Erie,  now  whispered  in  his  ear,  "God 
will  provide :  Jehovah-jirehP 

Filled  with  this  blessed  hope,  the  writer,  after  the  ordina- 
tion of  his  son  in  Chillicothe  to  the  priesthood,  proceeded  to 
Cincinnati,  where  he  communicated  his  design  to  his  friends, 
and  resigned  his  presidential  seat  in  the  college  "of  all  denom- 
inations," in  that  city.  His  family,  after  hearing  the  expla- 
nation of  his  views,  all  concurred  in  sentiment,  and  made 
preparations  to  spend  the  time  of  his  absence  among  their 
friends  in  the  Atlantic  states.  It  was  a  busy  time  indeed  :  no 
room  was  left  for  despondency.  All  was  prayer  to  God  and 
rejoicings  in  his  holy  providence.  "If  we  fail,"  said  the 
writer  to  his  wife,  "we  die;  but  better  go  than  to  Lingei  here 
and  see  the  Church  of  God,  for  want  of  ministers,  expiring 
round  us.  If  we  succeed,  Zkffl  will  lilt  up  her  head  in  Ohio, 
and  all  her  daughters,  the  little  Churches  which  we  have 
founded,  will  rejoice." 

L6* 


186  bishop   chase's   reminiscences- 

To  his  brethren  the  Bishops  of  the  Church,  he  wrote  the 
following  two  letters,  and  sent  them  by  the  post  to  each  sev- 
erally by  name. 

"Cincinnati,  July  29,  1823. 
"  Rt.  Rev.  and  dear  Sir  :  — 

"  I  have  as  yet  received  no  communication  in  answer  to  the 
letter  I  had  the  honor  of  addressing  to  the  Rt.  Rev.  the  Bish- 
ops assembled  in  convention  in  May  last ;  nor  have  I  seen  the 
minutes  of  that  convention.  But  though  alone  and  unadvised, 
I  have  had  the  liberty  to  contemplate  my  own  misery,  and 
also  to  feel  for  the  distresses  of  our  perishing  Church  in  the 
west.  In  so  doing,  I  have  had  grace  and  support  to  determine 
to  do  something  before  I  give  up  all  in  despair. 

"  I  have  resolved,  after  mature  deliberation,  and  I  hope  after 
reasonable  interpretations  of  the  leading  hand  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence, to  proceed  immediately  to  old  England,  to  solicit  means 
for  the  establishment  of  a  school  for  the  education  of  young 
men  for  the  ministry. 

"  The  reasons  which  have  impelled  me  to  this  measure  are 
those  of  imperious  necessity.  It  may  be  said  generally  of  the 
whole  community  of  the  western  settlements,  that  they  are 
sinking  fast  in  ignorance,  and  its  never-failing  attendants,  vice 
and  fanaticism.  The  members  of  our  own  Church,  scattered 
like  a  discomfited  army,  are  seeking  for  strange  food  in  forbid- 
den fields,  or,  in  solitary  groups  by  the  way-side,  are  fainting, 
famishing,  dying,  for  the  lack  of  all  things  which  can  nourish 
them  to  eternal  life.  No  missionaries  make  their  appearance, 
nor  are  there  even  the  most  distant  hopes  of  obtaining  any 
from  the  east.  Those  who  transiently  visit  us,  pass  like  me- 
teors, leaving  behind  little  or  no  salutary  effect,  or  stay  only 
time  enough  to  spy  out  the  nakedness  of  the  land,  and  bear 
off  an  evil  report  of  our  wants  and  miseries.  Had  it  not  been 
so  ordered  that  I  have  here  found  two  or  three,  accustomed  to 
our  wants  and  inured  to  the  difficulties,  necessities  and  labors 
of  a  new  country,  who  were  in  some  due  degree  prepared  for 
the  ministry,  and  willing  to  enter  it  in  a  critical  moment,  half 
a  dozen  of  our  parishes  would  have  been  ere  this,  as  many 
others  already  are,  extinct. 

"  The  few  clergy  we  have  may  keep  us  alive,  under  Provi- 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  187 

dence,  a  little  longer ;  but  when  they  die  or  move  away,  we 
have  no  means  to  supply  their  places.  The  pious  young  men, 
converted  unto  God  and  willing  to  enter  into  the  ministry 
under  all  its  disadvantages,  having  no  hope  of  assistance,  and 
no  way  pointed  out  to  them  whereby  there  is  even  a  possibil- 
ity of  attaining  the  lowest  degree  of  qualifications  specified  by 
our  canons,  sink  down  in  despair — a  despair  from  which  we 
have  no  power  to  raise  them.  We  may  think  of  the  privileges 
at  the  east,  of  the  means  of  education  there ;  but  this  is  all ; 
they  are  out  of  our  reach.  Besides,  if  our  young  men  were 
there,  if  we  could  find  money  in  our  woods,  or  drag  it  from 
our  streams,  to  send  and  maintain  them  at  the  eastern  semi- 
naries, who  could  insure  us  that  they  would  not  be  enticed, 
by  the  superior  offers  held  out  to  them,  to  settle  there,  and 
leave  us  still  in  our  wants? 

"  In  short,  unless  we  can  have  some  little  means  of  educat- 
ing our  pious  young  men  here,  and  here  being  secure  of  their 
affections,  station  them  in  our  woods  and  among  our  scattered 
people,  to  gather  in  and  nourish  our  wandering  lambs,  we 
have  no  reason  to  hope  in  the  continuance  of  the  Church  in 
the  west.  The  Church  of  God  is,  in  this  respect,  like  the  hab- 
itation of  man  in  the  settlement  of  every  new  country.  Men 
must  begin  as  they  have  means ;  splendor  and  prosperity  must 
be  the  result  of  previous  privations ;  and  he  that  will  not  for 
a  time  be  content  with  a  cabin,  shall  never  have  a  palace. 
Thus  if  we  wait  for  congregations  and  churches  to  arise, 
before  our  well-educated  clergy  can  make  their  appearance, 
the  country  must  forever  do  without  them.  We  have  done 
so  too  long  already,  and  most  deleterious  have  been  the  conse- 
quences.  For  one,  I  feel  disposed,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to 
amend  my  ways  in  this  respect.  I  will  endeavor  to  institute 
a  humble  school,  to  receive  and  prepare  such  materials  as  we 
have  among  us.  These  we  will  polish  under  own  eye,  to  the 
best  of  our  power;  and  with  these  we  will  build  the  temple, 
humble  as  it  may  be,  to  the  glory  of  God. 

"  Having  entered  on  this  resolution,  under  the  guiding  and 
directing  hand  of  Providence,  I  shall  make  my  best  way  to 
the  land  of  our  fathers  —to  the  Church  of  England  —  to  that 

generous  people,  who  will    not    turn  a  deal*  ear  to  the  •tics  of 


188  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

those  who  are  ready  to  perish,  especially  if  in  them  she  iden- 
tify her  legitimate  children.  Thus  under  God  being  resolved, 
the  Episcopal  Church  in  the  west  will  not,  must  not  die,  with- 
out a  struggle. 

"  Right  Reverend  Brother  :  —  The  object  of  my  making  to 
you  this  communication  is,  to  explain  my  views,  and  solicit 
an  epistle  approbatory  of  the  measure.  If  you  see  fit  to  grant 
it,  which  I  most  earnestly  desire  you  will,  be  pleased  to  direct 
to  me  (care  of  the  Right  Reverend  Bishop  Hobart)  at  New 
York,  whence,  God  willing,  I  shall  embark  for  England  in  the 
first  October  packet. 

"I  take  the  liberty  to  subjoin,  that  when  the  subject  of 
applying  to  England  was  talked  of  at  our  convention,  my  son, 
the  Rev.  Philander  Chase,  Jun.,  was  appointed  to  perform 
that  duty ;  but  his  health  will  not  permit.  Indeed,  I  fear  that 
the  Church  on  earth  will  be  soon  deprived  of  his  services  alto- 
gether. 

*  Very  respectfully,  your  friend  and  brother, 

"PHILANDER  CHASE." 


"Note  of  Communion  and  Charity  from  the  Bishop  of  Ohio  to 

the  Bishop  of  — . 

"  Beloved  Brother  in  the  Lord  :  — 

"  The  Bishop  of  Ohio,  being  about  to  sail  for  old  England, 
on  the  first  of  October  next,  to  accomplish  designs  of  great 
importance  to  the  primitive  Church  of  God  in  the  western 
states,  earnestly  desires  you,  his  Right  Rev.  brother,  Bishop 

of }  to  cause  prayers  to  be  offered  up  to  Almighty  God, 

for  his  preservation  from  all  evil,  and  that  it  would  please 
Him,  who  hath  the  hearts  of  all  men  in  his  hands,  and  all 
events  at  his  control,  to  prosper  the  endeavors  of  his  servant, 
to  the  glory  of  his  great  name,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 
Amen.  PHILANDER  CHASE. 

"  Diocese  of  Ohio,  July  29,  1823." 

Mrs.  Russell  and  her  little  daughter  having  gone  to  reside 
with  her  brother  in  Indiana,  there  v/ere  six  of  the  writer's 
family  who  entered  his  coach,  plain  enough  indeed,  yet  drawn 
by  two  faithful  horses — one  named  "  Cincinnatus."  from  the 
city  he  was  bought  in — and  all  were  soon  out  of  sight.     This 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  189 

was  on  the  4th  of  August,  1823.  What  will  the  reader  think, 
when  told  that  the  writer  himself  was  coachman  in  this  jour- 
ney 1  Neither  his  finances  nor  his  care  for  a  loved  family, 
would  allow  it  otherwise.  Let  those  who  blush  for  shame  at 
seeing  this  in  a  Bishop,  stand  a  while  on  the  pinnacles  of  Ken- 
yon  college.  Had  such  false  shame  prevailed  in  the  breast 
of  the  writer,  that  noble  institution  never  would  have  been. 

Arriving  at  Chillicothe,  the  writer  was  taken  sick,  and  for 
several  days  was  soothed  and  comforted  by  his  most  affec- 
tionate and  worthy  presbyter,  the  Rev.  Ezra  B.  Kellogg,  and 
his  family.  At  Zanesville  he  stopped,  and  a  letter  was 
given  him  by  a  friend,  addressed  to  his  brother,  a  clergyman, 
in  London.  At  Steubenville  he  was  met  by  his  nephew,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Morse,  and  saw  his  dear  son  there,  with  his  wife's 
father.  Mr.  Morse  continued  with  him  till  they  arrived  at 
Ashtabula,  where  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hall  received  priest's  orders. 

Few  instances  of  his  life  were  ever  more  perplexing  than 
that  which  met  him  here.  The  paper  of  commendation  drawn 
up  to  be  signed  by  the  clergy  of  Ohio,  in  favor  of  the  Bishop, 
had  been  signed  by  all  till  this  moment, —by  Rev.  Messrs. 
Doddridge,  Kellogg,  Morse,  Johnson  and  Chase,  — but  now 
the  Rev.  Messrs.  Searle  and  Hall  both  refused  to  put  their 
names  to  it !  !  Nothing  remained  but  to  proceed  without 
them.  Accordingly  the  coach  was  filled,  and  the  last  adieus 
were  given.  "A  human  arm  hath  failed  us,"  said  the  writer 
to  his  family;  "we  must  cling  more  closely  to  that  of  the 
Almighty.  He  never  faileth  those  who  put  their  trust  in 
Him."  He  had  scarcely  finished  this  sentence  when  a  per- 
son on  horseback  came  up,  evidently  in  great  haste  and  eager- 
ness, and  requested  the  writer  to  stop  and  turn  back  to  the 
village  of  Ashtabula,  for  there  were  several  persons  arrived 
there  from  Medina,  the  parish  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Searle,  who 
had  difficulties  with  him,  their  pastor,  which  the  Bishop  alone 
could  settle ;  and  as  he  was  going  away  and  not  to  return 
soon,  they  earnestly  requested  him  to  turn  back  and  decide 
the  litigated  case.  The  request  was  granted  —  the  Bishop 
returned  —  and  in  composing  the  difficulties  between  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Searle  and  others,  the  former  saw  it  his  duty  to  sign  the 
paper,  and  Mr.  Hall  followed  his  example 


190  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

How  wonderful  are  the  ways  of  Providence  in  controlling 
and  overruling  the  wills  and  passions  of  men  !  God  knew, 
though  the  writer  did  not,  that  there  would  be  great  oppo- 
sition to  his  going  to  England  for  assistance ;  and  had  there 
not  been  unanimity  among  the  clergy  of  Ohio,  that  opposition 
would  be  mightily  strengthened  ;  therefore  he  overruled  all 
for  good,  and  made  men  to  be  of  one  mind.  The  writer  had 
great  reason  to  bless  his  holy  name  for  this. 

The  letter  of  commendation  above  referred  to  is  as  follows : 
"  We,  the  presbyters  and  deacons  of  the  diocese  of  Ohio, 
North  America,  having  at  our  last  annual  convention,  in  com- 
munion with  our  apostolic  head,  contemplated  with  sorrow 
the  gloomy  condition  and  more  gloomy  prospects  of  the 
Church  in  the  states  west  of  the  Alleghany  mountains,  unani- 
mously resolved  that  some  effort  should  be  made,  under  God, 
to  insure  her  preservation  and  extend  her  borders.  In  look- 
ing anxiously  around  for  relief,  our  eyes  involuntarily  turned 
to  the  land  and  Church  of  our  fathers.  Here,  thought  we,  if 
anywhere,  the  Lord  hath  appointed  us  succor ;  their  benefi- 
cence is  proverbial,  and  we  are  their  brethren.  At  the  im- 
pulse of  hard  necessity,  therefore,  and  from  a  conviction  that 
nothing  of  an  ordinary  nature  can  continue  to  succeeding 
ages  our  apostolic  ministry  and  doctrines,  we  have  determined 
to  lay  our  wants  before  them.  And  beholding  in  our  vener- 
ated and  beloved  Diocesan  a  zeal  which  prompts  him  to 
sacrifice  to  the  good  of  Christ's  mystical  body  private  interest, 
domestic  comfort,  and  the  tranquillity  required  by  advancing 
age,  we  would  humbly  introduce  him,  as  the  messenger  of 
these  our  wants,  to  that  venerable  Church  whence,  by  God's 
good  providence,  we  derive  our  name  and  existence.  By  him 
the  precarious  condition  and  needy  circumstances  of  our  dio- 
cese will  best  be  set  forth,  for  he  best  knows,  having  longest 
felt  them.  We  wait,  therefore,  anxiously,  but  submissively, 
the  sentence  of  the  Lord  on  the  destiny  of  our  infant  church. 

"SAMUEL   JOHNSTON,  Rector  of  Christ  Church,  Cincinnati. 
"EZRA  B.   KELLOGG.  Rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Chillicothe. 
"INTREPID  MORSE,   Rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Steubenville,  St. 

James',  Cross  creek. 
"PHILANDER  CHASE,  Jun.,  Minister  of  St.  James'  Church,  Zanesville. 
"JOSEPH   DODDRIDGE,  Missionary  in  the  diocese  of  Ohio. 
"ROGER    SEARLE,  Rector  of  St.  Paul's  Parish,  Medina. 
"JOHN  HALL,  Rector  of  St.  Peter's  Parish,  Ashtabula." 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  191 

It  is  a  long  road  from  Ashtabula  to  Buffalo ;  and,  travelling 
a  great  portion  of  the  way  on  the  beach,  with  the  water  dash- 
ing at  every  wave  up  to  the  knees  of  the  horses,  not  altogether 
free  from  danger.  It  was  terrific  at  first,  but  the  horses,  as 
well  as  the  children,  became  accustomed  to  it,  and  enjoyed  the 
ride. 

To  diversify  the  adventures,  while  we  were  on  the  upland, 
and  passing  through  a  log  village,  the  horses  ran  under  a  low 
shed,  and  greatly  injured  the  carriage,  to  repair  which,  having 
reached  Buffalo,  we  were  obliged  to  stop  some  time.  This 
place  had  greatly  improved;  a  church  had  been  built,  in 
which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Babcock  was  preaching,  and  the  writer 
supplied  his  pulpit  for  a  Sunday,  and  visited,  with  his  family, 
Niagara  Falls. 

A  whole  week  was  passed  in  going  from  Buffalo  to  Cherry 
Valley,  where  the  good  clergyman,  mentioned  in  the  former 
part  of  this  memoir,  was  doing  sacred  duties.  This  was  the 
Rev.  Father  Nash,  as  he  even  then  began  to  be  called,  the 
first  missionary  west  of  Albany,  and  the  planter  of  all  the 
Episcopal  churches  in  Otsego  county.  As  a  pupil  to  his 
teacher,  as  a  son  to  a  father,  and  as  brother  to  a  brother,  so 
did  the  writer  pay  his  devoirs  to  this  venerable  servant  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  And  now  he  is  dead  and  gone  to  his  high 
reward,  this  last  tribute  to  his  memory  is  rendered  with  un- 
feigned regard  by  the  writer.  He  also  will  soon  follow,  and 
if  allowed  to  hope,  his  last  wish  would  be  to  sit  at  this  good 
man's  feet  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  This,  he  thinks,  would 
serve  to  cheer  him  in  what  is  left  of  the  journey  of  life. 

The  Sunday  was  passed  in  assisting  Father  Nash  in  his 
public  duties,  and  on  Monday  the  journey  was  renewed;  and 
when  arrived  at  Kingston,  on  the  16th  of  September,  the  resi- 
dence of  the  mother  of  the  writer's  wife,  more  than  eight 
hundred  miles  had  been  travelled  over  since  leaving  <  inciimati 
in  Ohio.  With  what  anxious  solicitude  the  termination  of 
this  long  journey  had  been  anticipated  by  the  whole  family, 
need  not  be  expressed.  Every  day,  for  more  than  six  weeks, 
had  been  counted  and  subtracted  from  the  amount  allotted,  as 
every  hour  rolled  its  tedious  wheel  along. 

Amidst  all  the  variety  of  obstacles  which  the  writer  had 


192  bishop  chase's  reminiscences, 

pictured  to  himself  as  incidental  to  his  present  undertaking, 
he  never  had  dreamed  of  that  which  met  him  at  Kingston — 
that  of  fear  and  trembling  in  the  bosom  of  his  dearest  friends. 
As  he  descended  from  the  carriage,  he  saw  in  the  countenances 
of  his  beloved  relatives  a  deep-fixed  gloom.  Instead  of  smiles 
and  joyous  boundings  of  the  soul,  at  the  sight  of  one  who,  so 
nearly  connected  with  the  family,  had  been  for  several  years 
away,  and  now  was  returning  with  his  babes,  never  before 
seen,  in  health  and  spirits,  for  indeed  they  were  the  highest, 
he  saw,  or  thought  he  saw,  evidence  of  mental  forebodings  of 
great  evil,  and  the  gloom  of  sympathetic  despair. 

"What  can  be  the  reason,"  said  the  writer,  openly,  "that 
you  seem  so  cast  down?  Are  you  not  glad  to  see  us?  Does 
it  give  you  no  pleasure  to  behold  those  who  have  for  so  long 
a  time  been  looking  with  anxious  eyes  forward  to  this  blessed 
period  of  seeing  those  they  love  ?  What  causes  this  gloom, 
dear  mother  ?  Are  any  of  our  friends  sick,  dying,  or  dead  ? 
Has  any  dear  one  erred  irreclaimably  from  the  path  of  duty? 
Have  you  been  afflicted  as  Job?  Have  the  Sabeans  broken 
in  on  your  borders,  or  the  lightnings  of  heaven  descended  and 
smitten  the  four  corners  of  your  social  dwelling?" 

At  hearing  of  such  questions,  (for  they  were  actually 
made,)  so  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  propounded,  the  sur- 
prise was  not  that  what  had  been  seen  had  been  misinter- 
preted, but  that  it  had  been  so  easily  and  correctly  discovered. 
No  attempt,  therefore,  was  made  to  disabuse  the  mind  from 
erroneous  impressions.  All  the  reply  was  a  warm  embrace, 
and,  "Your  dressing-room  is  ready;  all  quite  ready." 

Now  the  narrative  requires  it  should  be  stated,  that  this 
room  was  on  the  ground  floor,  i.  e.,  a  little  above  the  level  of 
the  ground,  and  at  the  side  of  the  house  overshadowed  with 
trees  above,  and  lilac  bushes  below,  and  sweet  briars  and 
roses  growing  with  untamed,  undipped  branches  at  the  Avin- 
dows.  The  furniture  was  old-fashioned,  but  in  abundance ; 
ewers  for  the  hands,  and  cedar  lavers,  nicely  bound  with  brass, 
for  the  feet ;  pitchers  filled  with  pure  water,  and  napkin  clean, 
and  a  carpet  well  kept,  and  as  costly  as  Turkey  or  India  could 
afford. 

"  This  would  be  luxury  indeed,"  said  the  writer  to  his  wife, 


BISHOP     CHASES     REMINISCENCES.  193 

as  he  shut  the  door,  "  were  it  not  for  the  unaccountable  gloom 
on  the  face  of  our  dear  mother."  "  Our  passions  of  the  higher 
grade,"  she  answered,  "on  finding  themselves  confined,  rush 
out,  like  men  when  the  house  is  on  fire,  by  doors  unusual  and 
forbidden;  they  jump  out  at  windows  when  all  is  confusion 
within.  Thus  our  dear  mother,  being  greatly  affected  by  our 
arrival,  may  express  her  gladness  by  tears,  and  in  ways  at 
other  times  unthought  of."  "  This  is  the  best  apology  you 
could  make,"  said  the  writer,  "and  I  honor  you  for  inventing 
it;  but  still  it  is  not  the  true  reason." 

The  work  of  "making  toilet"  went  on,  when  all  of  a  sud- 
den there  came,  thrown  in  at  the  open  window,  over  the  rose 
and  briar  bushes,  by  an  unseen  hand,  a  packet  of  letters, 
accompanied  by  these  words  from  a  brother  out  of  sight, 
"  There,  brother,  are  some  letters  from  the  post-office."  They 
were  all  addressed  to  the  writer,  and  the  contents  laid  open  to 
view  the  whole  mystery,  and  showed  the  cause  of  all  the 
melancholy  looks  we  had  just  witnessed.  They  condemned 
the  plan  of  going  to  England  in  toto,  and  threatened  ruin  to 
the  projector  if  he  proceeded  in  it.  This  was  made  known  to 
the  family  to  whose  care  they  were  sent,  as  it  afterwards  was 
confessed,  and  in  terms  representing  the  madness  of  the 
scheme,  and  earnestly  entreating  that  every  suasive  means 
should  be  used  to  prevent  the  writer  from  going  another  step 
on  a  tour  which,  in  the  end,  must  prove  so  fatal  to  him  and 
to  the  happiness  and  prosperity  of  his  family. 

When  the  letters  in  the  dressing-room  were  read,  the  sim- 
ple question  was  asked  with  astonishment,  "What  shall  be 
done?1  To  this  there  was  an  answer  —  the  only  one  of  de- 
spondency before  or  since  ever  heard  from  her  lips — "Then 
wc  must  go  home  to  Rome,  and  die  among  our  neighbors." 
In  plain  truth,  we  must  go  back  to  Ohio,  and  there  expire. 
The  rejoinder  was  "Never!" 

From  that  moment,  there  was  mutual  firmness  of  purpose. 

17 


194  BISHOP     CHASE    S     REMINISCENCES. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

OF  THE  TIME  IN  THE   CITY  OF  NEW  YORK  PREVIOUS  TO  THE  WRITER'S 
SAILING   FOR    ENGLAND OPPOSING  FRIENDS GULF    STREAM. 

From  the  moment  he  arrived  in  New  York,  the  writer 
encountered  the  opposition  mentioned  in  the  letters  he  received 
in  Kingston.  "You  must  not  go  to  England  —  you  will  be 
ruined  if  you  do."  Even  his  intimate  friends  had  been  spoken 
to  on  the  subject,  and  concluded  "it  would  be  best  not  to  go." 
"You  had  better  consider,"  said  they;  "are  you  indeed  de- 
termined to  go?"  When  answered  in  the  affirmative,  they 
would  shake  their  heads  and  look  grave ;  and  if  there  were 
two  or  more  together,  another  would  ask  the  same  question 
over  again,  and  turning  to  his  companions,  would  partly 
smile;  and  then  seem  to  condole  and  say,  as  if  all  were  say- 
ing together,  "  You  had  better  look  ere  you  leap.11 

The  reader  will  bear  in  mind  that  none  of  these  persons  had 
crossed  the  Alleghany  mountains.  They  all  lived  "  this 
side" — that  is,  the  Atlantic  side;  therefore  their  judgment 
was  not  much  esteemed  by  the  writer,  for  this  simple  reason 
—  it  was  a  one-sided  judgment.  Had  they  seen,  and  felt,  and 
suffered  what  the  writer  had,  it  is  to  be  presumed  they  would 
have  thought  and  judged  differently.  These  were  his  reflec- 
tions at  the  time,  therefore  he  remained  of  the  same  mind; 
their  advice  did  not  change  his  purpose. 

But  the  matter  did  not  end  with  friendly  advice.  As  was 
intimated  in  the  MS.  letter,  he  was  told  that  the  opposition 
to  the  application  for  aid  would  accompany  it  to  England, 
and  it  would  be  a  pity  to  witness  a  quarrel  in  a  foreign  land. 
The  writer  answered,  he  knew  of  no  quarrel.  He  was  pur- 
suing things  lawful,  and  in  a  lawful  way;  if  any  one  could 
show  to  the  contrary,  let  him  do  so,  even  in  this  country,  and 
not  a  step  further  would  be  taken.  To  this  there  was  but  one 
answer:  —  "You  will  be  opposed  in  England  by  all  the 
weight  of  the  church  in  America,  and  that  in  the  strongest 
manner."  The  writer's  reply  was,  he  could  not  bring  his 
mind  to  believe  this.     "  This  must  ami  will  be  done.11  were  the 

* 

last  words  exchanged  on  the  subject. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  195 

A  letter  had  been  written  by  a  friend  of  some  eminence  at 
the  bar  of  the  western  courts,  to  an  honorable  gentleman,  for 
some  time  once  a  resident  in  London,  soliciting  from  him,  in 
favor  of  the  writer,  letters  of  introduction  to  some  men  of 
character  in  England.  This  letter  had  been  mentioned  to  the 
friends  of  the  writer,  and  by  them  sent  over  to  Long  Island, 
where  the  honorable  gentleman  lived.  Some  days  elapsed, 
and  the  same  letter,  having  been  read,  was  sent  back  to  the 
writer  with  the  compliments  of  the  honorable  gentleman,  that, 
having  been  advised  to  the  contrary,  he  had  thought  proper 
to  refuse  any  letters  of  introduction  to  his  friends  in  England. 
Who  sustained  the  soul  under  this  heavy  stroke  ?  Answer  — 
God. 

There  was  some  comfort  in  the  reception  of  the  following 
letters  addressed  to  himself,  written  by  Bishops  Bo  wen  and 
Ravenscroft :  — 


BISHOP    RAVENSCROFT    TO    BISHOP    CHASE. 

"Diocese  of  N.  Carolina,  Sept.  8,  1823. 
"  Rt.  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir  :  — 

"I  received  your  note  of  communion  and  charity,  dated  the 
29th  July,  with  its  enclosure,  on  the  eve  of  my  departure  on 
a  visit  to  this  diocese ;  which  gives  me  a  good  opportunity  to 
comply  with  your  pious  request,  to  be  remembered  in  the 
prayers  of  the  Church  here,  for  which  the  necessary  directions 
shall  be  given. 

"  The  object  of  the  distant,  perilous,  and  fatiguing  journey 
you  are  about  to  undertake,  must  call  forth  the  good  wishes 
and  prayers  of  all  who  have  any  regard  for  the  prosperity  of 
the  Church,  or  feel  any  interest  for  the  spread  of  pure  and 
undefiled  religion.  I  therefore  trust  that  the  good  providence 
of  Almighty  God  will  prepare  your  way  before  you,  give  you 
favor  in  a  strange  land,  open  the  hearts  of  the  people  to  the 
wants  of  their  brethren,  and  return  yon  to  your  charge  in 
health,  with  a  prosperous  issue  to  your  zeal  t'<>r  thfl  advance- 
ment of  his  glory. 

"To  say  that  1  approbate  the  measure  would  be  a  cold 
expression  of  the  desire  I  feel  for  its  success;  —  a  fellowship 


196  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

in  your  wants  being  pressed  upon  me  by  those  under  my  own 
eye  —  by  those  calls  for  help  which  cannot  be  answered,  even 
with  partial  relief — by  the  increasing  necessity  of  withstand- 
ing the  inroads  of  ignorance  and  fanaticism,  while  we  are 
yet  unfurnished  with  instruments  for  the  work.  For  zeal,  to 
be  profitable,  must  be  coupled  with  knowledge,  applied  with 
discretion,  continued  with  patience,  and  exercised  in  meek- 
ness and  charity ;  and  these,  though  unquestioned  fruits  of  the 
Spirit,  are  yet  such  under  our  dispensation,  by  the  discipline 
of  laborious  study,  resolute  self-denial,  firm  faith,  and  unre- 
served self-dedication. 

"  So  deep  is  the  taint  of  false  principles  in  religion  through- 
out our  land ;  so  disproportionate  is  the  dross  to  the  pure  gold 
of  the  gospel;  so  mighty  the  efforts  which  infidelity  and 
heresy  are  making  under  the  name  of  Christianity,  that  the 
moral  sense  of  the  community  is  not  only  in  a  diseased,  but  in 
a  dying  state.  To  withstand,  and  eventually  to  cure,  this 
moral  distemper,  the  only  remedy,  under  God,  is  a  learned, 
pious,  and  devoted  ministry,  nourished  up  themselves  in  the 
words  of  faith  and  sound  doctrine,  who  may  be  able  to  teach 
others  also.  But  to  do  this  with  comfort  and  effect,  in  a 
country  of  such  diversified  population  and  dissimilar  habits 
as  this  great  continent  contains,  it  is  equally  necessary  that 
they  be  trained  up  among  those  with  whom  they  have  to 

deal. 

"To  this  your  fatherly  purpose  points;  may  it  therefore 
have  good  success,  by  His  guidance  and  blessing  from  whom 
only  all  holy  desires,  all  good  counsels,  and  all  just  works  do 
proceed.  And  may  a  star  arise  in  the  west  to  bless  that  wil- 
derness with  its  cheering  light ;  ushering  in  that  bright  and 
glorious  day  when  the  knowledge  of  God,  and  Jesus  Christ 
whom  he  has  sent,  shall  cover  the  earth,  and  all  who  profess 
and  call  themselves  Christians  shall,  with  one  heart  and  one 
mouth,  glorify  the  God  of  their  salvation. 

"  To  his  holy  keeping,  safe  direction,  and  wise  disposal,  I 
heartily  commit  you  and  the  cause  you  have  in  hand,  entreat- 
ing his  gracious  protection  of  you,  his  fatherly  care  of  all  you 
leave  behind,  and  a  speedy  and  happy  return  to  your  family, 
your  friends  and  your  flock. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  197 

"  Your  sincere  friend,  and  affectionate  youngest  brother  in 

our  common  Lord,  

"JOHN  T.  RAVENSCROFT." 


BISHOP    BOWEN    TO    BISHOP    CHASE. 

"  Charleston.  September  8,  1823. 
"  Rt.  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir  :  — 

"Your  communication  of  July  has  remained  unanswered 
longer  than  I  would  have  wished;  but  not  longer  than  to 
admit  of  your  hearing  from  me  on  the  subject  of  it  before  the 
sailing  of  the  October  packet.  It  has  been  painful,  in  a  very 
great  degree,  to  contemplate  the  obstacles  which  have  seemed 
to  impede  the  success  of  your  zealous  and  apostolic  labors  in 
the  west.  I  have  been  aware  that  the  chief  of  these  was  the 
difficulty  of  procuring  clergymen,  suited  by  their  education 
and  habits  to  the  peculiar  nature  of  the  service  to  be  per- 
formed. The  view  which  you  express  of  the  characteristic 
necessity  of  the  case  of  the  Church  in  the  western  states,  is 
not  only  that  in  which  I  am  disposed  to  acquiesce,  but  the 
same  which  I  have  myself  for  some  years  entertained. 

"Your  clergy  must  be  sons  of  the  soil.     A  mission  to  the 
Western  Ocean  Islands  does  not  more  require  an  adaptation 
of  character  to  circumstances  in  the  ministry,  than  an  effec- 
tual propagation  of  the  Gospel,  according  to  the  doctrine  and 
discipline  of  our   Church,   in  the  western  territories  of  the 
United  States.     Wales  must  not  more,  of  necessity,  have  cler- 
gymen who  are  Welshmen,  than  Ohio,  Illinois,  &c.,  clergymen 
who,  by  early  training  and  habit,  are  capable  of  assimilation 
to  the  character  of  their  inhabitants  generally,  and  of  endur- 
ing the  travel  and  exposure  of  their  woods  and  lulls.     Do  not 
mistake  me.     I  am  not  ignorant  of  the  respectable  degree  of 
improvement  and  intelligence  which  obtains  in  your  diocese 
Mv  allusion  is  to  the  hardship  necessary  to  be  endured  by 
ministers  of  the  gospel,  from  the  scattered  condition  of  the 
people  with  whom,  as  members  of  our  Church,  they  may  be 
concerned,  and  the  yet  comparatively  rough  state  of  much  of 
the  extensive  country  winch  must  be  the  scene  of  their  labors. 
Men  educated  in  other  conditions  of  society,  are  scarcely  in 

17 


198  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

any  instances  capable  of  this.  I  am  fully  sensible,  therefore, 
that  if  you  have  an  efficient  ministry  at  all,  it  must  be  con- 
stituted by  the  education,  among  yourselves,  of  men  born  and 

reared  among  you. 

"Now,  sir,  you  perceive  that  my  sympathies  cannot  but 
go  affectionately  with  you,  in  any  worthy  enterprise,  having 
for  its  object  that  which  you  represent  to  be  in  your  view. 
I  wish  I  could  be  warranted  to  express  an  opinion  as  to  the 
expediency  of  your  visiting  England  in  prosecution  of  your 
plan.  Of  this  you  are  more  competent  to  judge  than  I 
I  must  content  myself  with  earnestly  praying  that  your  labor, 
wherever  prosecuted,  may  not  be  in  vain,  and  may  have  the 
blessing  of  Him  <  who  is  head  over  all  things  to  his  Church,' 
to  rest  on  and  to  abide  with  it. 

"I  have  received  your  letter,  announcing  the  purpose  of 
your  son  to  make  trial  of  the  climate  of  Charleston  for  the 
winter.  All  that  can  be  done  to  comfort  him  shall  be.  I  have 
already  engaged  the  most  suitable  lodgings  I  could  think  of, 
to  be  ready  against  his  arrival.  He  shall  not  be  neglected  — 
this  assurance,  however,  were  needless;  in  Charleston  the 
sick  stranger  never  is,  much  less  the  sick  minister  of  Christ. 

"Adieu:  may  God  preserve  and  bless  you,  prays  your 
friend  and  brother,  N.  BOWEN. 

11  To  (he  R(.  Rev.  Bishop  Chase." 

It  is  said  that  "  afflictions  love  a  train."  The  writer  is  of 
the  same  mind,  if  you  add  that  God  is  the  director  of  them 
all,  to  his  own  glory  and  the  final  benefit  of  the  afflicted ;  and 
still  further  consider  that  afflictions  of  one  sort  are  apt  to  be 
abused,  by  exciting  our  passions,  if  not  softened  by  afflictions 
of  another  sort,  which  are  calculated  to  allay  those  passions 
and  cause  the  soul  to  look  to  God  only  for  help. 

Something  of  this  nature,  in  all  its  merciful  combinations, 
was  realized  by  the  appearance  of  the  writer's  sick  son  in  New 
York,  just  as  the  opposition  to  his  going  to  England  was  at 
the  highest.  While  in  Ohio,  it  was  agreed  that  he  should  go 
to  the  south  for  a  milder  air,  during  the  inclement  wintry 
months.  To  discharge  a  domestic  duty  he  had  stayed  a  while 
—  had  become  a  father  of  a  lovely  daughter  —  whom,  with 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  199 

the  mother,  his  all  of  earthly  treasure,  leaving  with  the  best 
of  parents  — he  hastened  across  the  mountains,  and  for  the 
last  time  sojourned  a  few  days  with  the  father  he  dearly  loved 
in  New  York.  This  interview  seemed  indeed  a  god-send  to 
the  writer  — it  brought  the  divine  aid  with  it.  His  son  was 
evidently  going  to  God,  and  by  his  evidently  living  so  near 
to  God  in  thought,  word  and  deed,  by  his  faith,  hope  and 
charity,  had  an  influence  on  all  who  saw  him,  and  especially 
those  who  were  with  him  in  the  silent  moments  of  retirement. 
His  example  was  as  the  smell  of  Lebanon  — it  clung  to  the 
very  garments  of  those  who  entered  his  sick  chamber,  and 
heard  him  talk  of  things  pertaining  to  the  kingdom  of  God. 

His  approaching  end  was  deemed  an  affliction.  It  was 
indeed  so  in  the  sense  designed;  but  as  a  regulator  in  the 
hands  of  God  of  the  perturbed  passions  of  a  parent's  breast, 
at  that  time,  it  was  a  blessing.  Like  oil,  it  softened  all  and 
smoothed  all,  so  that  the  waves  subsiding,  the  eye  of  faith 
could  see  far  away  ahead  what  would  be  the  result  of  peace- 
ful measures  designed  for  the  glory  of  God.  He  was  clear 
and  decided  in  the  opinion,  that  it  was  the  duty  of  his  father 
to  address  the  public  on  the  subject  of  a  western  seminary, 
and  of  going  to  England  for  aid ;  and  when  a  manuscript  was 
prepared,  having  been  written  in  his  bed-chamber,  for  a 
pamphlet,  entitled,  "A  letter  on  the  subject  of  going  to  Eng- 
land for  the  relief  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
state  of  Ohio,  addressed  to  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  White,"  he 
fully  approved  of  the  same,  and  advised  its  immediate  and 
general  circulation. 

The  substance  of  this  letter  has  been  a  great  part  of  it 
recited  in  the  present  narrative,  being  almost  entirely  a  collec- 
tion of  facts.  The  grand  objection  was  to  having  a  western 
seminary,  and  to  going  to  England  lor  aid  fol  Ohio.  The 
following  extracts  give  some  reasons  in  favor  ot  both  :  — 

••  if  we  ate  to  wait  until  the  Atlantic  states  aw  ail  supplied 
wiih  clergymen,  does  not  the  increasing  state  of  the  Church 

there  not   only  bedim,  but  forever  extinguish,  the  eye  of  hope 

here,  that  any  will e*wr  cine  from  thence  I     \nd  this  being 
the  case,  who  will  supply  o«  places  when  we  are  gone,  to  say 

nothing  of  the  uiuu«t,»us  parishes  ansuppuedl    So  poor  are 


200  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

we;  in  such  confined  and  uncomfortable  dwellings  do  the 
most  of  us  reside ;  so  scanty  are  our  libraries,  and  so  inces- 
santly are  we  engaged  in  parochial  and  missionary  duties, 
that  we  can  neither  assist,  nor  direct,  nor  teach  the  young 
men  who  apply  to  us  for  orders,  though  there  are  not  a  few. 
If  the  qualifications  for  the  ministry  are  kept  up  to  their 
present  standard,  (and  we  pray  that  they  may  ever  be  so,) 
by  what,  except  a  miracle,  can  we  be  supplied  with  clergy- 
men? The  only  answer  to  this  question  was  given,  by 
stating  the  imperious  necessity  of  having  an  institution  for  the 
education  of  young  men  for  the  ministry,  among  those  who 
are  to  benefited  by  their  labors. 

"  That  this  conclusion  was  just  and  unimpaired  by  investi- 
gation, appeared  from  the  distance  at  which  we  were  placed 
from  all  means  of  education  at  the  eastward,  and  the  moral 
impossibility  of  sending  our  candidates  to  the  eastern  semina- 
ries. For  well  did  we  perceive  that  the  same  causes  which 
prevented  the  ordained  candidates  from  courting  the  labors  of 
a  missionary  in  the  west,  and  inclined  them  to  listen  to  the 
superior  offers,  and  prefer  the  more  refined  state  of  society,  in 
the  east,  would  not  cease  their  effect  on  the  young  men,  whom, 
if  it  were  possible,  we  might  send  thither  for  their  education. 
We  saw,  or  thought  we  saw,  that  if,  in  the  lapse  of  years, 
means  should  be  found  to  send  here  and  there  a  person  to  the 
east  for  his  education,  the  western  states  would  have  no  cer- 
tainty of  having  him  for  their  minister.  Besides,  the  dissimi- 
larity of  habits  and  manners  existing  between  the  inhabitants 
of  an  old  and  a  newly  settled  country,  forbade  the  expectation 
that  useful  clergy  could  be  obtained  to  supply  our  present 
wants.  Time  and  zeal,  prayer  and  sufferings,  might  succeed, 
as  they  had  succeeded,  in  overcoming  difficulties  of  this  kind ; 
but  ordinarily  they  are  too  great  to  be  surmounted. 

"  We  rejoiced  to  read  of  the  success  attending  all  endeavors 
to  cherish  and  promote  the  general  institution  of  our  common 
Church,  and  wished  that  we  could  enjoy  its  glorious  privi- 
leges. But  such  was  our  peculiarly  distant  and  isolated  con- 
dition, that  we  could  not  think  any  objection  to  a  separate 
institution  in  the  east  would  ever  apply  to  us  in  the  west. 
Necessity,  thought  we,  has  no  law ;  and  as  sure  as  the  Church 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 


201 


is  sustained  in  the  west,  'it  must  be  by  the  sons  of  the  soil,' 
and  those  trained  in  her  own  institutions.  As  to  the  nature 
of  the  institution  which  we  must  have  while  we  keep  to 
the  laws  of  God  and  the  canons  of  the  Church,  it  was  never 
suspected  but  that  in  all  things  pertaining  to  the  mode  of  its 
conduct  and  maintenance,  we  might  be  judges. 

"  The  very  reasons  for  the  existence  of  an  institution  for  the 
education  of  ministers  in  the  west  would  suggest  others ;  that 
the  said  institution  should  be  under  the  government  of  those 
who,  from  their  being  on  the  spot,  and  amidst  the  people  to  be 
benefited,  knew  best  what  was  proper  to  be  done,  and  to  this 
end  their  funds  should  be  at  their  own  control.     To  prevent 
the  possibility,  however,  in  any  future  generation,  of  a  diver- 
sion of  their  funds  to  things  foreign  from  their  original  inten- 
tion, and  to  secure  the  unity  of  the  Church  to  all  intents  of  the 
constitution  and  canons  of  the  general  convention,  it  was  and 
is  our  purpose  to  insert  in  the  legal  act  of  incorporation  a  pro- 
viso,  that,  on  evidence  of  a  malapplication,  [of  funds,]  the 
General  Theological  Institution,  or  the   Bishops,  as  a  com- 
mittee of  that  body,  should  be   authorized  by  law  to  make 
inquiries,  and  set  things  right.     Assurances  to  this  effect  I 
think  I  had  the  honor  of  expressing  to  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop 
Hobart,  in  my  communication  to  him,  of  which  I  have  not  a 
copy.     If  it  be  asked  what  is  our  plan  for  the  contemplated 
institution,  and  what  are  to  be  its  peculiar  advantages?  — the 
answer  is,  to  save  a  sinking  infant  branch  of  our  primitive 
Church  from  ruin  and  extinction. 

"  To  accustom  our  youth  and  future  servants  of  a  benefi- 
cent Redeemer  to  acts  of  substantial  charity,  and  as  a  means 
of  disseminating  the  principles  of  our  holy  religion,  under 
proper  inspection,  especially  among  the  poor  and  ignorant,  a 
printing  press  and  types  will  be  solicited,  and  the  young  men, 
or  some  proper  proportion  of  them,  will,  at  cooveoieol  hours 
of  the  day,  be  employed  in  printing  tracts  and  a  periodical 
publication.  I  need  not  say  how  interestingly  useful  this  will 
be  to  our  country:  for  were  I  to  attempt  it,  the  terms  of  our 
language  would  not  permit.  This  literary  put  of  our  scheme 
will  be  under  the  peculiar  oversight  of  the  teachers.  It  is 
understood  that  the  institution  is  to  be  under  the  immediate 


202  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

care  of  the  Bishop  for  the  time  being,  or  his  substitute,  assisted 
by  two  or  more  professors  of  sacred  learning,  and  a  grammar- 
school  teacher. 

"  These  are  the  outlines  of  our  plan,  to  which,  if  God  give 
us  the  means,  we  intend  to  adhere. 

"  The  next  question  is,  whence  can  we  obtain  the  funds  to 
carry  our  designs,  so  beneficial  to  the  Church,  especially  that 
portion  of  it  scattered  in  the  woods  of  the  west,  into  full  effect  7 
In  solving  this  question,  there  seems  to  be  a  difference  of 
opinion.  What  has  guided  me  and  my  dear  brethren  of  Ohio 
in  this  matter,  I  beg  leave  to  state. 

"The  interesting  attitude  which  the  General  Theological 
Institution  had  assumed,  in  being  so  harmoniously  established 
in  New  York,  and  the  pressing  and  peculiar  demands  which 
she  had  for  all  the  aid  of  Episcopalians  in  the  Atlantic  states, 
forbade  us  to  apply  to  them. 

"  Whence,  then,  thought  we,  can  arise  our  hopes  of  relief? 
What  part  of  the  universal  Church  is  there  who  will  compas- 
sionate our  forlorn  and  perishing  state  ? 

"  Under  these  circumstances  and  thus  situated,  were  we  to 
blame,  Rt.  Rev.  and  very  dear  sir,  for  turning  our  eyes  to  the 
land  of  our  fathers — to  that  land  whose  enlightened  inhabit- 
ants are  spreading  the  glorious  gospel  throughout  a  benighted 
world?  Could  men  who  were  suffering  so  many  deprivations, 
who  were  worn  with  fatigue  and  dejected  in  spirit,  who  were 
strangers  to  all  political  considerations  but  such  as  they  had 
learned  from  their  Bibles,  could  they  be  censured  for  a  measure 
which  naturally  arose  from  the  truth,  that  all  Christians  are 
brethren,  of  whatever  nation  ? 

"  I  assure  you,  my  Rt.  Rev.  and  very  dear  sir,  that,  in 
applying  to  the  throne  of  mercy  for  direction  and  grace,  to 
enable  me  to  overcome  the  many  obstacles  and  difficulties 
which  the  contemplated  measure  presented,  it  never  for  once 
occurred  to  me  that  there  would  be  made  any  reasonable 
objection,  much  less  any  serious  opposition,  by  my  brethren  in 
the  Atlantic  states.  And  well  might  one,  it  is  humbly  con- 
ceived, rest  assured  that  the  measure  would  be  approved  by 
all  Christians,  when  there  was  nothing  found  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures  against  it,  and  when  its  benevolent  design  was  to 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  203 

fulfil  many  a  sacred  precept,  and  imitate  many  a  bright 
example.  Could  I  conjecture  that  it  was  wrong  for  me  to 
solicit  donations  from  the  affluent  in  one  part  of  Christ's 
universal  Church,  to  supply  the  pressing  wants  of  another, 
when  those  wants  involved  her  very  existence?  Was  my 
character  as  a  Bishop,  in  these  modern  days,  to  be  considered 
so  far  different  from  that  of  others  in  former  times,  even  that 
of  the  holy  apostle  St.  Paul,  as  to  render  collections  for  the 
poor  criminal  in  me,  which  were  commendable  in  them? 
Could  I  dream  that  the  terms  begging  and  beggar,  in  their 
reproachful  sense,  would  be  applied  to  one  who  should  ask,  in 
the  name  of  Him  who  was  born  in  a  stable,  for  means  to  pro- 
vide the  bread  of  life,  and  save  the  souls  of  those  for  whom  he 
died? 

"  No,  dear  sir,  these  things  were  not  within  reach  of  my 
conjecture,  when  I  formed  the  resolution  to  proceed  on  my 
present  errand.  My  fears  were  of  quite  a  different  and  oppo- 
site cast.  When  the  good  God,  as  I  thought,  had  given  me 
grace  to  pledge  my  little  all  of  worldly  possessions  to  obtain 
means  to  accomplish  my  design,  (for  nothing  of  the  missionary 
fund,  I  assure  you,  is  hazarded,  as  in  my  son's  going  to 
England  would  have  been  the  case,)  my  fears  were  lest  the 
apostolic  complexion  of  the  measure  might,  by  the  great 
enemy  of  souls,  be  made  the  occasion  of  pride  and  vanity. 
But  it  appears  that  my  trials  are  of  another  sort. 

"In  conclusion,  I  would  respectfully  observe,  that,  whatever 
difference  of  opinion  there  may  be  in  the  minds  of  my  brethren 
as  to  the  expediency  of  my  going  to  England  on  the  present 
errand,  I  hope  it  will  be  granted,  that  while  the  measure  is 
lawful  in  itself,  and  in  my  own  opinion  indispensably  neces- 
sary to  the  welfare  and  existence  of  the  Church  in  the  diocese 
over  which,  by  the  Divine  Providence,  I  am  placed,  it  becomes 
my  bou nden  duty  to  fulfil  the  dictates  of  my  conscience,  and 
proceed  without  delay.  Accordingly,  my  passage  being  taken 
on  board  the  packet,  if  the  Lord  permit,  I  shall,  according 
to  the  time  fixed  on  while  in  Ohio,  sail  on  the  first  of  Octo- 
ber." 

The  letter  from  which  these  extracts  are  taken  was  a  hasty 
production,  written  in  a  sick-room,  and  during  intervals  of  an 


204  BISHOP   chase's   reminiscences. 

agitated  period — opposing  friends  around  him,  and  a  wide 
ocean  before  him,  beyond  which  were  scenes  as  untried  as 
those  in  another  world  — and  withal,  a  portentous  cloud  hang- 
ing over  and  ready  to  burst  on  the  writer's  defenceless  head. 
Under  such  circumstances,  he  asked  for  the  prayers  of  the 
Church  for  a  person  going  to  sea.  In  this  he  was  denied ;  on 
what  principle  he  never  asked. 

At  length  came  the  first  of  October,  the  day  fixed  on  while 
in  Ohio  for  his  embarkation.  There  was  one  clergyman  in 
New  York  who  ventured  to  "  accompany  him  to  the  ship,'7 
for  whom,  in  remembrance  of  this  good  deed,  he  will  never 
cease  to  pray.  They  walked  together,  while  his  wife  and 
invalid  son  rode  to  White  Hall  in  a  coach,  in  which  he 
embraced,  for  the  last  time  on  earth,  his  darling  son.  The 
steamboat  took  him  to  the  packet  ship  Orbit,  Capt.  Tinkham, 
at  the  Lazaretto. 

Soon  the  anchor  was  up  and  the  ship  at  sea.  All  the  pas- 
sengers seemed  happy,  and  the  writer  tried  to  feel  so ;  but  the 
remembrance  of  what  he  had  left  behind— his  sick  son,  his 
anxious  wife,  his  helpless  children,  his  suffering  diocese,  and 
his  angry  friends  ! — and  when  he  looked  over  the  waters,  he 
knew  not  who,  if  any,  would  welcome  him  with  their  greet- 
ings ;  but  he  was  well  assured  who  would  attempt  to  drive 
him  from  the  English  shores,  for  from  his  own  lips  he  heard 

the  promise. 

The  banks  of  Newfoundland  were  passed  in  a  fog;  yet  we 
could  discern  the  smacks  at  anchor,  with  their  fishing-poles 
and  lines  well  baited,  all  out  on  their  sides,  yet  no  hands  were 
on  deck.  They  were  supposed  asleep,  like  sinners,  uncon- 
scious of  their  danger.  Leaving  the  banks,  we  plunged  into 
the  deep  Atlantic,  steering  for  England.  The  Gulf  Stream, 
with  its  warm  current,  was  on  our  right,  along  which  we  ran 
parallel  till  more  than  two  thirds  across  to  the  English  sound- 
ings. 

Now,  gentle  reader,  as  we  are  on  this  subject  of  the  Gulf 
Stream,  and  our  thoughts  are  at  liberty  to  range  over  oceans 
and  continents ;  and  as,  since  the  invention  of  steamers,  the 
relations  of  the  events  of  a  voyage  are  exceedingly  tiresome  ; 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  205 

— may  it  not  be  satisfactory  to  thee  to  read  a  leaf  in  the  jour- 
nal of  the  writer,  several  years  ahead  ? 


god's  way  of  binding  nations  and  continents  together,  or 
america  necessary  to  england. 

Why  is  the  climate  of  old  England  so  mild  and  humid  in 
winter — her  fields  so  green — her  gardens  so  productive  of 
useful  and  pleasant  vegetables  the  whole  winter  through, 
while  the  regions  of  country  occupying  latitudes  ten  and 
twelve  degrees  further  south  in  America,  are  locked  up,  during 
all  the  winter  months,  in  fetters  of  frost  and  ice  ? 

This  question  was  frequently  asked  while  the  writer  was  in 
England.  The  answer  was  :  —  Under  God,  England  owes  all 
this  to  America ;  if  the  latter  were  annihilated,  the  former 
would  exhibit  but  a  cold  and  frozen  region,  admitting  neither 
comfort  nor  commerce — no  verdure  in  winter — no  humid 
atmosphere  to  keep  off  the  frosts  and  cherish  the  esculent  veg- 
etables. 

"  This  is  sooner  said  than  proved,"  was  the  reply ;  "Eng- 
land owe  to  America  the  enjoyment  of  the  natural  blessings 
of  her  climate  !  How  can  you  make  Englishmen  believe 
this?" 

Not  as  a  cause,  but  as  a  means.  God  is  the  author  of  all 
blessings,  and  to  teach  nations  to  love  one  another,  he  hath 
made  them  all  mutually  dependent ;  even  so  that  in  taking 
away  one  the  other's  happiness  is  destroyed.  The  Gulf 
Stream,  that  mollifier  of  the  north  Atlantic  Ocean,  would  have 
no  existence  were  America  annihilated.  The  trade  winds, 
which  now  are  the  prime  cause  of  that  Stream,  would,  if  not 
stopped  by  America,  pass  directly  into  the  Pacific  Ocean,  car- 
rying the  water  heated  by  the  vertical  sun  along  with  them, 
till  both  reached  the  shores  of  Asia.  As  it  is,  the  trade  winds 
aiv  arrested  by  the  Cordilleras,  or  American  Lodes,  and  the 
powerful  current  of  waters  of  the  ocean,  caused  by  them,  is 
Stopped  in  its  progress  westward  by  the  American  shore. 
These  waters  accumulate  in  the  Caribbean  Sea,  in  the  Bay  of 
Honduras  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  to  the  height  of  many  feet 
above  the  level  those  parts  would  otherwise  RfflflWna,     In  this 

18 


206  BISHOP     CHASE    S     REMINISCENCES. 

swollen  state,  these  immense  bodies  of  water,  just  coming  from 
under  a  vertical  sun,  find  a  vent  between  the  Tortugas,  or 
Florida  Cape,  and  the  Island  of  Cuba,  and  there  form  a  vast 
river  of  tepid  water,  seventy  miles  wide  and  unfathomably 
deep.  This  river  is  called  the  Gulf  Stream,  and  runs  at  the 
rate  of  from  four  to  six  miles  an  hour. 

This  vast  body  of  water,  thus  swiftly  coursing  along,  finds 
its  outlet  into  the  Atlantic  Ocean  between  the  Florida  shore 
and  the  Bahama  Islands  and  banks,  and  pursues  its  course 
nearly  in  a  north-eastern  direction  through  the  sea,  as  an 
engine  hose  through  the  streets.  In  its  way  it  touches  the 
outward  part  of  Cape  Hatteras,  producing  abundance  of 
squally  weather.  The  next  obstruction  is  the  Newfoundland 
banks,  whose  extensive  shoals  of  cold  water,  coming  in  con- 
tact, on  the  surface  only,  with  the  warm  Gulf  Stream,  produce 
frequent  fogs.  From  the  Newfoundland  banks  this  mighty 
Stream  points  its  course  across  the  Atlantic,  still  in  the  direc- 
tion mentioned.  And  it  is  a  fact,  certified  by  the  log-books  of 
many  ships,  that  the  warm  current  of  the  Gulf  Stream  con- 
tinues its  distinctive  character,  from  the  cold  adjacent  waters, 
till  it  reaches  the  eastern  part  of  the  vast  Atlantic  Ocean, 
when,  having  spent  its  collective  force,  it  diffuses  itself  in 
those  favored  regions  of  the  British  Isles,  softening,  by  its 
warm  and  genial  influence,  the  whole  state  of  the  air  for 
countless  miles  around. 

Fogs  in  the  winter,  and  frequent  showers  and  cloudy 
weather  in  summer,  for  which  England  and  Ireland  are  cele- 
brated, are  proof  of  this.  That  the  warming  influence  of  the 
Gulf  Stream  extends  to  the  eastern  parts  of  the  great  Atlantic, 
appears  from  the  affirmative  answer  which  must  be  given  to 
the  following  questions:  —  Do  not  the  English  experience 
pleasure  in  bathing  at  Hastings  and  Brighton,  and  on  all  the 
southern  coasts  of  England,  after  a  continuance  of  a  long 
course  of  south-west  winds?  And  is  not  the  cause  of  this 
luxury  withdrawn  whenever  the  wind  changes  to  a  northerly 
direction?  Do  not  the  south-west  winds  in  England  melt  the 
snow  away,  and  hasten  on  the  flowers  of  spring?  Now  why 
is  this,  if  not  from  the  cause  we  have  mentioned  ? 

If  these  observations  be  true,  contrast  them  with  the  facts  in 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  207 

the  Mississippi  valley.  Between  the  Alleghany  and  the  Rocky 
mountains,  the  south-west  winds  produce  the  contrary  effect ; 
—  because,  instead  of  coming  from  a  warm  Gulf  Stream,  the 
winds  (once  the  trade  winds,  now  the  same  rebounding  from 
the  snow-capped  heights  of  the  Cordilleras)  bring  with  them 
chilling  effects;  snow  in  winter,  freezing  weather  in  spring 
and  autumn,  and  in  summer,  cool,  refreshing  breezes. 

If  it  be  asked,  "What  is  the  sequel  of  these  winds  thus 
originating?"  the  answer  is,  that  the  facts  will  tend  to  support 
the  great  theory  on  which  all  depend,  viz.,  one  grand  circula- 
tion of  air  and  water,  for  the  health  of  both  America  and 
Europe,  of  which  the  winds  we  are  now  considering  are  an 
important  part.  The  mind,  filled  with  this  great  idea,  delights 
to  take  in  the  whole  prospect  at  once ;  and  though  this  should 
cause  a  little  repetition  of  facts  stated  before,  yet  the  pleasure 
they  give  is  worth  the  pains. 

God  creates  a  world,  places  it  in  space  to  revolve  round  the 
sun  every  year,  and  to  produce  alternate  day  and  night,  gives 
this  world  a  rotation  around  its  own  axis,  and  it  turns  accord- 
ing to  his  will,  from  west  to  east,  every  twenty-four  hours  ;  the 
sun  necessarily  goes,  or  appears  to  go,  the  contrary  way,  i.  e., 
from  east  to  west,  and  as  he  goes  gives  great  heat.  This  rar- 
efies the  air,  and  produces  a  current  of  wind  following  the  sun 
from  east  to  west.  This  wind  is  and  ever  must  be  the  same, 
blowing  invariably  to  the  west,  carrying  the  water  with  it. 
As  we  have  said,  it  strikes  the  great  mountains  which  divide 
the  Atlantic  from  the  Pacific  ;  it  glances  off  according  to  the 
angle  of  incidence,  and  sweeps  up  through  the  Mississippi 
valley,  in  a  north-easterly  direction,  and,  doubling  the  northern 
cape  of  the  Alleghany  mountains,  it  flies  swiftly  down  upon 
the  north  Atlantic,  and  joins  its  old  companion,  or  legitimate 
offspring,  the  Gulf  Stream. 

If  this  theory  be  correct,  other  phenomena  Me  explained. 

It  is  well  known  that  a  passage  by  s;u I- vessels  from 
America  to  Europe  is  made  in  half  the  time  it  requires  to 
return.  Can  anything  account  Tor  this  phenomenon  so  satis- 
factorily to  a  reasonable  mind,  as  tins  theory  of  a  grand  circu- 
lation of  wind  ami  water?  The  trade  \vin<ls  an-  returning, 
though  in  a  vast  circuit,  to  obviate  tin-  tendency  to  a  vacuum 


208  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

occasioned  by  a  rarefaction  of  the  air  under  the  equator ;  and 
thus  they  keep  up  the  grand  circulation  of  wind  and  water,  so 
necessary  to  the  comfort,  if  not  to  the  very  existence,  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Europe  and  America. 

Now,  to  bring  this  matter  to  a  conclusion,  this  grand  circu- 
lation would  never  exist  were  it  not  for  America.  She  arrests 
the  winds ;  she  stops  the  mighty  wave.  Commissioned  by  her 
Maker,  she  saith  to  both,  "Hitherto  shall  ye  come,  and  no 
further.  Turn  your  mighty  powers  to  other  and  more  salu- 
tary courses.  Waft  the  ships,  and  warm  the  chilling  bosom 
of  the  deep ;  and  as  ye  go,  leave  everywhere  a  salubrity  of 
climate  which  nothing  else  can  give." 

America  is  thus  destined  by  Providence  to  do  all  this  ;  and 
truly  may  it  be  said  that,  were  she  not  to  stand  in  the  place 
where  God  hath  placed  her,  the  northern  parts  of  both  conti- 
nents would  be  materially  injured,  chilled,  and  perhaps  ren- 
dered uninhabitable.  England,  in  particular,  would  be  shorn 
of  all  her  honors,  and  of  half  her  charms.  So  cold  and  sterile 
would  be  her  soil,  that  her  children  would  be  compelled,  like 
the  Esquimaux,  to  light  their  ice-built  habitations  with  fish- 
oil,  and  live  on  blubber.  Instead  of  this,  what  now  is  Eng- 
land ]  The  home  of  science,  and  the  cradle  of  the  arts ;  an 
empire  on  whose  provinces  the  sun  never  sets ;  whose  ships 
have  carried  commerce  to  the  ends  of  the  earth,  and  with  them 
the  missionaries  of  the  Cross;  thus  fulfilling  the  prophecies 
that  "her  kings  should  be  the  nursing  fathers  and  her  queens 
the  nursing  mothers  of  the  Church." 

A  Christian  person  cannot  close  a  subject  of  this  nature, 
without  some  reflections  suggested  by  its  vast  importance  in  a 
religious  point  of  view. 

What  honor  and  glory  to  Almighty  God,  the  great  architect 
of  the  universe,  doth  it  reflect,  to  view  his  works  as  binding 
all  in  one  common  destiny  of  enjoyment !  What  infinite  wis- 
dom, and  goodness,  and  loving  kindness,  does  it  discover  in 
our  great  Creator,  to  see  thus  demonstrated  the  fact,  that  he 
hath  not  only  connected,  with  the  strongest  ligatures,  many 
brethren  together  in  one  family,  different  men  in  one  govern- 
ment, and  many  nations  in  one  league  of  friendship,  but  hath 
bound  even  continents  together  in  one  indissoluble  tie,  so  as  to 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  209 

make  the  annihilation  of  the  one  the  inevitable  destruction 
of  the  other !  What  amazing  infinity  is  ascribed  unto  God, 
when  we  see,  in  viewing  his  works,  the  language  used  by  the 
Apostle  touching  the  different  members  of  the  human  frame, 
equally  applicable  even  to  continents,  empires  and  kingdoms ! 
"  The  eye  cannot  say  to  the  hand,  I  have  no  need  of  thee ;  nor 
again  the  head  to  the  feet,  I  have  no  need  of  you ;  for  if  one 
member  suffer,  all  the  members  suffer  with  it ;  or  one  member 
be  honored,  all  the  members  rejoice  with  it!" 

Great  God  of  Mercy,  unite  all  in  love,  as  thou  hast  joined 
us  all  in  one  common  destiny ! 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

LETTERS   AT    SEA ARRIVAL    IN   ENGLAND  —  ADDITIONAL    LETTERS. 

The  writer's  departure  from  New  York  has  already  been 
mentioned.  Through  the  mercy  of  his  Heavenly  Father,  he 
had  a  prosperous  voyage,  though  not  entirely  free  from  perils, 
which  are  to  this  day  freshly  remembered.  The  letters  writ- 
ten at  the  time  are  among  the  few  papers  saved  by  his  dear 
wife  from  the  fire  which  destroyed  his  house  in  Michigan 
many  years  afterwards,  and  are  here  inserted:  — 

"At  Sea,  Oct.  29,  1823. 
"  My  Dear  Wife  :  — 

"  I  write  this  in  my  dark  state-room,  on  board  the  packet- 
ship  Orbit,  on  the  29th  of  October,  1823,  about  forty  miles 
from  Holy  Head,  and  say  one  hundred  miles  from  Liverpool. 
The  coast  of  Ireland  has  been  visible  to  us.  for  the  most  part, 
ever  since  we  passed  Cape  Clear.  The  hills  and  the  cliffs,  in 
varied  and  beautiful  succession,  have  risen  to  cheei  us  by  day, 
and  theii  light-houses,  like  stars  in  the  distant  and  tremulous 

horizon,  have  sparkled  m  OUT  eyes  and  deprived  the  night- 
watch  of  half  its  gloom  and  terror.  H<»w  often,  as  1  have 
remained  on  deck,  Long  after  all  the  passengers  had  turned  in, 

18* 


210  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

to  doze  away,  to  them,  the  tedious  moments,  have  I  thought 
on  you  and  the  dear  babes  sleeping  at  your  side.  Almighty 
God,  Saviour  of  our  fallen  race,  who  hearest  the  prayers  of 
the  poor  and  destitute,  in  mercy  visit,  protect  and  bless  my 
dear  wife  and  children !  Let  them  partake  of  the  crumbs 
which  fall  from  thy  table,  and  it  shall  suffice  !  Be  more  mer- 
ciful to  us  than  man  has  been,  or  we  perish ! 

"My  dear  wife,  the  tears  which  now  flow,  and  scarcely 
have  ceased  to  flow,  down  my  care-worn  cheek,  witness  the 
sincerity  of  my  prayer,  as  I  have  supplicated  for  you,  for  poor, 
sick  Philander,  and  for  all  my  dear  friends  left  in  my  native 

country. 

"  We  have  had  a  long  and  stormy  passage,  emblematical 
of  my  whole  life.  But  God  has  overruled,  I  hope,  in  both 
cases,  for  good.  As  now,  so  at  the  close  of  the  voyage  of  life, 
may  the  prospects  brighten  of  a  blessed  haven  of  rest. 

"Last  Sunday,  a  week  ago,  we  were  visited  with  a  gale, 
amounting  almost  to  a  tempest.  At  such  a  time,  how  pre- 
cious the  promises  in  Jesus  Christ !  How  they  fix  and  settle 
the  soul,  and  take  even  from  Death  his  terrors  !  I  know  not 
how  it  is,  but  the  troubles  I  have  lately  met  with  have  seemed 
to  reconcile  me,  more  than  at  any  former  period  of  my  life,  to 
the  will  of  God,  should  it  please  him  to  call  me  from  this  to 
the  eternal  world.  Yet  sure  I  am  that  I  do  not  love  the 
church  of  Christ,  nor  my  relatives  and  friends,  the  less  on  this 
account.  No,  they  are  dearer  to  me  than  ever;  and  my 
prayers  for  their  happiness  were  never  so  fervent.  But  it 
seems  I  am  not  needed.  My  best  endeavors  turn  to  little  good 
purpose.  I  am  opposed  as  an  evil-doer,  where  I  thought  I 
was  serving  most  effectively  the  will  of  my  Saviour.  This 
is  to  remind  me  of  my  frailty,  my  weakness,  my  nothingness. 
I  therefore  would  submit.  <  Thy  will,  not  mine,  O  God,  be 
done ! '  And  though  this  be  by  death,  <  Thy  will,  O  Heavenly 
Father,  be  done ! '     Amen. 

*  You  will  be  gratified  to  learn  that,  as  it  respects  things 
aboard,  our  passage  has  been  most  agreeable.  The  captain 
has  been  kind  to  us  beyond  example,  and  all  the  passengers 
have  conspired  to  make  each  other  as  happy  as  possible. 
This  is  saying  much  more  than  can  usually  be  said.     We 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  211 

have  had  divine  service  every  Sunday,  and  grace  before  and 
after  meat.  May  God  add  his  blessing  to  these  means. 
Adieu." 

"Ship  Orbit,  November  2,  1823. 
"My  Dear  Wife:  — 

"lam  now  (Nov.  2,  at  5  o'clock,  P.  M.)  still  on  board  the 
ship  Orbit,  at  anchor  about  five  or  six  miles  below  Liverpool. 
I  commence  my  history  from  Wednesday  last.  The  day  was 
fine,  and  the  evening  attended  with  as  fine  a  wind  as  the 
heart  could  wish.  '  Never,'  said  the  good  Captain  Tinkham, 
'  never  have  I  experienced  so  rapid  and  easy  a  passage  up  the 
Channel  as  this.'  All  was  the  full  glee  of  fond  expectation. 
The  green  hills  of  Erin  were  seen  on  our  left,  and  the  spa- 
cious channel  of  Bristol,  after  passing  the  Land's  End,  was 
fancied,  as  we  recurred  to  the  chart,  on  our  right. 

"  Just  before  dark,  we  descried  the  Welsh  islands  below,  or 
to  the  west  of  Anglesea ;  and  as  the  dark  night  came  on,  we 
were  gratified  with  a  distant  view  of  the  Holy  Head  light. 
It  rose  upon  the  enraptured  sight  as  the  shades  of  evening 
increased,  and  the  ship's  bell  rung  the  passing  hour,  till  in  full 
splendor  it  shone,  as  it  revolved  on  its  axis  every  minute,  the 
finest,  brightest,  most  cheering  object  in  the  world.  To  this 
succeeded  the  lights  of  Skerry,  to  show  by  contrast  the  supe- 
riority of  their  neighbor,  and,  by  their  relative  bearings,  to 
guide  the  anxious  mariner. 

"We  had  nearly  brought  them  in  a  line,  when,  wearied 
with  watchings,  after  mutual  congratulations  with  our  excel- 
lent captain  and  mates  on  the  happy  prospects  before  us,  I 
retired  to  my  state-room.  'To-morrow  will  be  Thursday. 
In  the  morning  the  pilot  will  come  on  board,  and  at  nine  or 
ten  we  shall  be  in  town,  all  if  God  permit,'  said  I.  as  I  laid 
myself  down  to  rest.  The  wind  freshening,  the  ship  was  up 
wiili  the  Point  Linus  light  (and  of  course  on  pilot  ground) 
sooner  than  was  expected.  As  it  was  necessary  that  one 
should  he  immediately  obtained,  t<>  prevent  us  from  becoming 
landlocked)  (for  the  wind  blew  with  increasing  strength  from 

the  iiorih-easl.  right    ill   on   to   the    land.)   the  greet  gtttl  was 

lired  twice,  in  hopes  of  attracting  the  attention  of  the  pilots,  if 

any  there  were,  who   might    he   lying  off  and  on,  wailing  for 


212  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

ships.  But  our  signals,  though  they  were  so  loud  and  heavy 
in  their  shock  as  to  break  considerable  of  the  glass  on  board, 
were  not  noticed.  The  sound  was  spent  on  the  fleeting 
breeze,  which  every  moment  increased  on  us. 

"The  morning  broke  upon  us,  anxious  beyond  description, 
but  no  pilot-boat  in  sight.  With  heavy  hearts  of  both  cap- 
tain, crew  and  passengers,  the  ship  was  hove  about,  put  close 
to  the  wind,  and  we  stood  for  the  Isle  of  Man. 

"The  wind  increasing  from  the  north-east,  and  the  ship 
close  upon  it,  we  neared  it  slowly.  As  it  constituted  once  the 
pastoral  care  of  one  of  the  best  of  Christian  shepherds,  the 
good,  the  pious  Bishop  Wilson,  of  whom  so  many  apostolic 
labors  are  recorded,  the  view  of  its  distant  hills  was  dear  to 
me.  Happy,  blessed  land,  whose  inhabitants  once  enjoyed 
the  teaching  and  example  of  that  so  faithful  servant  of  his  and 
our  adored  Master !  Would  that  I  saw  thy  shores  and  hills 
under  more  propitious  circumstances  !  Would  that  I  could 
be  permitted  to  visit  thy  churches,  and  linger  on  the  conse- 
crated ground  where  the  pious  Wilson  preached  the  gospel, 
awakened  the  sinner,  warned  the  careless,  and  administered 
heavenly  comfort  to  the  penitent ! 

"  From  such  reflections,  our  thoughts  were  called  to  the 
increasing  danger  around  us.  The  day  was  spent  by  the  sea- 
men in  contending  with  the  storm,  and  preparing  one  thing 
after  another  for  the  worst.  As  the  darkness  fell  upon  us  the 
wind  increased,  but  the  light-house  on  the  Isle  of  Man  showed 
us  where  we  were;  this  was  one  comfort.  Guided  by  this, 
and  that  of  Holy  Head,  as  the  ship  stood  orT  and  on  in  con- 
tending with  the  storm,  we  rode  out  the  night.  This  was 
that  of  Thursday,  and  had  our  troubles  then  ended,  the  im- 
pressions made  on  our  minds  by  the  violence  of  the  tempest 
would  have  lasted  with  our  days.  But  another  day  of  more 
dreadful  terror  succeeded. 

:  The  sun  rose  on  Friday  morning  with  peculiar  splendor, 
but  it  was  a  splendor  unaccompanied  with  mildness  or  mercy. 
The  heavy  blasts  of  wind  had  raised  the  sea,  though  from  its 
want  of  depth,  as  in  the  mighty  ocean,  not  in  mountains,  yet, 
by  reason  of  their  violence,  into  precipices  of  most  frightful 
aspect.     All  around  us  seemed  but  one  sheet  of  foam,  which, 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  213 

by  the  same  blasts  that  created  it,  was  raised  and  scattered  in 
the  air,  as  if  the  ocean  and  its  waves  were  troubled,  and  con- 
tending clouds  were  raining  upicards.  It  was  during  this 
morning  that  the  most  sublime  yet  singular  sight  I  ever 
beheld  was  presented  to  my  view.  It  seemed  as  if  the 
promise  of  the  '  bow  in  the  cloud'  had  been  reversed  from  that 
of  peace  to  that  of  terror.  The  bow  was  formed,  not  from  the 
rain  gently  descending  from  a  heaven  of  mercy,  but  from  the 
terrific  sprays  sent  up  from  the  angry  deep. 

"Our  ship,  though  the  best  sea-boat  that  floats  on  the 
ocean,  was  as  if  she  had  no  master  to  control  her  rapid 
motions;  —  at  this  instant  her  head  plunging  to  the  bottom,  at 
that  mounting  to  the  stars.  A  close-reefed  topsail  and  a  stay- 
sail were  the  only  canvass  she  could  bear,  and  even  these, 
impelled  as  they  were  by  the  mighty  wind,  brought  the  gun- 
nels of  her  high  deck  to  the  water  every  roll.  So  powerful 
was  the  tempest,  that,  when  on  the  margin  of  the  wave,  the 
ship  seemed  lifted  from  her  element  and  at  the  sport  of  the 
gale.  This  state  of  things  continued  from  morn  till  night,  a 
day  never  to  be  forgotten. 

"I  shall  not  attempt  to  tell  you  how  we  the  passengers 
spent  this  day.  It  were  idle  to  try  to  describe  our  feelings  or 
our  actions.  I  hope  the  awful  scene  was  improved,  as  it  no 
doubt  was  intended,  for  our  spiritual  benefit.  As  a  humble 
believer  and  minister  of  the  Christian  faith,  I  hope  what  I  did 
in  this  trying  season  was  consistent  with  my  character,  and 
useful  to  myself  and  others. 

"I  have  not  yet  mentioned  to  you  the  names  of  our  passen- 
gers. They  were  Mrs.  Tinkham,  the  wife  of  the  captain; 
Mr.  Bolton,  an  English  gentleman  returning  to  his  family; 
Mr.  Kinney,  a  young  gentleman  returning  after  some  years' 
residence  in  the  West  Indies;  Dr.  Lawson,  also  returning  to 
Scotland  for  his  health  after  a  residence  in  Indiana  :  and  a  Mr. 
Alexander,  a  Virginian,  going  to  Scotland  to  settle  some  family 
estate. 

"These,  together  with  the  captain  and  mates,  were  our 
associates,  who  now,  in  the  hours  of  this  dreadful  day,  looked 
one  Upon  the  other,  reading  their  own  in  the  fearful  trembling 
of  th'Mr  neighbor's  face.     'It  was  on  these  awful  shores  that 


214  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

the  Albion  and  her  unhappy  crew  met  their  untimely  fate. 
Who  but  God  only  can  save  us  from  the  like?  Who  but  that 
Almighty  Being,  at  whose  command  the  stormy  wind  ariseth, 
can  now  say  to  the  troubled  waves,  Peace,  be  still.' 

This  was  the  tenor  of  our  language ;  and  while  I  reflect  on 
the  happy  result  in  the  ingenuousness  of  confession,  both  of 
the  great  truths  of  religion  and  of  their  effect  on  the  soul, 
leading  to  repentance  and  full  purpose  of  amendment  ex- 
pressed by  my  little  flock,  I  cannot  restrain  my  grateful 
acknowledgments  that  in  these  trying  moments  I  was,  how- 
ever unworthy,  permitted  to  be  the  pastor.  God  grant  that 
the  effect  may  be  lasting ;  that  all,  in  remembering  this  day, 
the  prayers  then  offered  and  the  resolutions  then  formed,  may 
have  reason  to  bless  God  that  they  have  been  thus  afflicted. 

"  On  Friday  night  and  Saturday  morning  the  gale  began  to 
abate  by  intervals,  and   during  the  day  we  were  in   mercy 
relieved  from  further  anxiety.     It  was  the  captain's  aim  to 
keep  the  vessel  in  the  channel  and  drift  as  little  as  possible  to 
the  leeward.     In  the  former  he  was  successful ;  in  the  latter, 
not  so  much  so.     We  found  ourselves,  on  the  abatement  of 
the  wind,  far  down  the  channel,  and  again  had  to  make  the 
Welsh    islands   and    the   Holy   Head   lights.      A   favorable 
breeze  enabled  us  to  do  this,  so  that  this  morning,  Sunday,  at 
seven  o'clock,  we  found  ourselves  where  we  were  on  Thurs- 
day last.     We  soon  took  a  pilot  and  made  for  Liverpool,  and 
find  from  report  from  thence  this  evening,  while  at  anchor, 
that  the   Meteor  got  in  but  on  the  very  day  we   were  so 
unhappy  as  to  encounter  the  gale,  viz.,  on  Thursday  last.     I 
have  said  unhappy,  but  it  ought  to  be  reversed  in  meaning ; 
for  all  agree  that  if  a  pilot  had  come  aboard  when  we  first 
wished  him,  in  endeavoring  to  conduct  the  ship  into  port,  as 
he   most   undoubtedly   would,    in   this   most   difficult  of  all 
entrances,  we  should  most  inevitably  have  been  lost.     We 
should    have   but   commenced   our   course   when   the   wind 
changed  and  blew  with  such  violence ;  so  even  now  we  begin 
to  see  that  all  was  meant  in  mercy  to  us. 

"  To-morrow,  God  willing,  after  having  gone  through  the 
forms  of  the  custom-house  and  walked  about  to  take  a  view 
of  the  town,  I  shall  set  off  for  Manchester,  to  see  Mr.  Wiggin 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  215 

and  my  dear  nephew.  I  shall  therefore  fold  my  letter,  and 
write  perhaps  with  a  pencil  a  note  only  of  my  arrival  in  town. 
"And  now,  my  dear,  dear  wife,  I  renew  all  the  tender 
expressions  of  love  to  you  so  often  reiterated.  Be  assured  of 
my  trust  in  God's  goodness  and  merciful  guidance.  That  His 
will  may  be  done  is  my  most  constant  and  fervent  prayer. 
Love  and  duty  to  dear  mother,  and  never  forget  to  mention 
me  tenderly  to  all.  Kiss  the  dear  children  a  thousand  times 
for  their  fond  father.  Who  knows  but  their  and  your  prayers 
were  the  means  of  saving  from  perishing  him  who  now  as 
ever  is  your  loving  husband?" 

Pencil-marks. 

"Liverpool,  Nov.  3. —  We  are  now,  through  God's  gracious 
goodness,  safe  in  Bruce' s  dock,  in  this  the  object  of  our 
thoughts  and  prayers  for  so  many  anxious  days.  The  forms 
of  the  custom-house  will  not  permit  me  to  set  off  for  Manches- 
ter till  to-morrow,  the  4th.  You  will  not  hear  from  me 
again  till  I  write  from  London.  In  the  mean  time  I  entreat 
your  prevailing  prayers. 

"  If  you  should  ask  how  I  feel  in  regard  to  the  great  object 
which  brought  me  hither,  in  reply  I  assure  you  again  and 
again  of  my  trust  in  God's  goodness,  mercy  and  wisdom. 
Into  His  hands  I  have  committed  all.     Amen." 

Manchester,  (E)ig.)  November  5,  1823. 

"  My  Dear  Wife  :  — 

"  I  think  the  last  letter  I  wrote  you  was  dated  on  board  the 
Orbit,  while  lying  at  anchor  six  miles  below  Liverpool.  On 
the  margin  I  noted  with  a  pencil  that  the  ship  had  gotten  safe 
into  dock,  and  expressed  my  gratitude  to  our  Heavenly  Father 
for  so  great  a  mercy.  What  followed  from  that  to  the  present 
time,  shall  be  the  subject  of  the  present  letter. 

"The  first  thing  to  be  done  was  to  pass  our  luggage  at  the 
custom-house.  And  here  I  cannot  but  observe  that  the  atten- 
tion to  small  /kings  was  greater  than  I  had  reason  to  expect. 
As  it  respects  myself,  however,  everything  WAS  conducted  in  a 
liberal  and  respectful  manner.  (Mir  good captaio  attended  us 
through  the  whole  scene,  and  was  bo  kind  ai  t<»  Bee  me  and 


216  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

my  luggage  safely  placed  at  a  respectable  boarding  inn.  Here 
everything  was  comfort,  order  and  decency.  No  ostentation, 
no  profusion;  all  had  one  only  tendency,  and  that  was,  to 
make  the  guest  happy.  Here  I  spent  the  evening,  the  night, 
and  the  next  morning  till  half  past  one,  when,  having  taken 
my  seat  in  the  mail  coach,  I  set  off  for  this  place. 

"  Though  the  weather  was  heavy,  and  a  gentle  rain  con- 
tinually falling,  and  although  from  the  inside  of  the  coach  my 
view  was  obstructed,  yet  the  beauty  of  the  country  through 
which  we  passed  continually  attracted  my  attention.  It 
seemed  one  continued  garden,  intersected  with  pleasure- 
grounds  and  fields  hi  the  highest  state  of  cultivation.  We 
passed  through  the  villages  of  Prescot,  Warrington,  and 
Ackles.  Near  the  first-named  place  is  the  seat  of  Lord  Derby. 
The  mansion-house  cannot  fully  be  viewed  from  the  road,  but 
everything  about  it  denoted  taste  in  the  possessor,  and  con- 
ferred pleasure  on  the  beholder.  Warrington  is  more  respect- 
able for  its  size  than  Prescot,  and  Ackles  smallest  of  all  three. 

"It  was  dark  before  we  arrived  in  Manchester.  Finding 
that  my  nephew,  Benjamin  Chase,  was  not  in  town,  he  hav- 
ing gone  to  France,  I  took  a  coach  and  rode  out  to  see  my  old 
friend  and  college  companion,  Mr.  T.  Wiggin.  He  resides 
about  two  miles  from  town,  in  a  most  delightful  part  of  the 
country,  and  everything  about  him  indicates  not  only  the 
wealth  but  the  good  sense  of  a  gentleman.  He  received  me 
with  great  kindness,  and  though  his  drawing-room  was  filled 
with  friends,  spent  most  of  the  evening  with  me,  ministering 
to  my  comfort  and  talking  over  the  scenes  of  our  youthful 
days.  In  the  course  of  the  conversation  I  made  known  to 
him  the  object  of  my  coming  to  England,  and  carried  the  his- 
tory of  my  plan  for  the  benefit  of  our  dear  Church  in  the  west 
as  far  as  Kingston ;  but  there  stopped,  by  reason  that  his  atten- 
tion was  required  to  the  civilities  due  to  his  friends  and  neigh- 
bors. After  they  were  retired  he  returned  to  me,  and  con- 
ducted me  to  the  presence  of  his  family. 

"In  Mrs.  W.  I  witnessed  the  manners  and  character  of  a 
lady  and  a  Christian.  She  is  a  native  of  England,  and  though 
she  spoke  in  high  terms  of  America,  in  which  with  her  numer- 
ous family  she  had,  to  accommodate  to  the  wishes  of  her  hus- 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  217 

band,  resided  for  some  time,  (at  Brighton,  near  Boston,)  yet 
preferring  her  native  country,  they  have  here  taken  up  their 
residence,  to  all  appearance,  for  life. 

"While  I  resided  in  Hartford,  Connecticut,  Mr.  T.  Wiggin 
visited  me,  and  it  seems  he  remembers  more  of  the  incidents 
of  that  visit  than  myself.  Of  a  circumstance  he  reminded  me 
while  we  were  sitting  round  the  fire  last  night.  '  Don't  you 
remember,'  said  he,  '  that  after  dinner,  in  Hartford,  we  retired 
to  the  shade  of  your  trees,  and  that  you  plucked  from  one  of 
them,  and  moralized  on,  a  thorn  of  peculiar  size,  growing  in 
the  shape  of  a  cross  ?  This  thorn  I  preserved,  and  my  wife 
exhibits  it  for  a  curiosity  to  her  friends.'  'Yes,'  said  Mrs.  W., 
'  I  have  shown  it  this  evening  to  the  company,  as  a  specimen 
of  American  productions.'  I  need  not  say  that  this  little  inci- 
dent in  our  conversation  gave  me  peculiar  pleasure. 

"It  was  late,  and  I  retired  to  rest;  not,  however,  without 
the  peculiar  civilities  of  my  good  friend  Mr.  W.  Instead  of 
taking  airs  on  himself  on  account  of  his  wealth,  for  he  is  very 
rich,  he  seemed  in  every  respect  as  if  he  were  a  brother,  and 
that  affection  dictated  all  his  actions.  He  accompanied  me  to 
my  bed-chamber,  and  ministered  to  my  comfort  as  if  there 
were  no  servants  in  the  house.  Can  I  cease  to  be  grateful 
that  I  have  met  with  such  reception?  I  hope  not.  To  one 
situated  as  I  am,  with  no  friend  but  the  merciful  God,  in  a 
foreign  land,  such  kindness  is  valuable  in  a  sense  which  I 
want  words  to  express. 

"Mr.  W.  came  into  my  room  before  I  was  risen,  and 
renewed  his  attentions,  and  at  breakfast  I  met  his  lovely 
family,  — one  son  and  daughter  nearly  grown  up,  and  a  little 
boy  who  reminded  me  of  dear  Henry,  and  a  governess  who 
performs  the  task  of  'school  teacher'  to  the  little  ones,  of 
whom,  I  am  informed,  there  are  several.  Their  eldest  daugh- 
ter is  m  Prance  for  a  year  or  two.  Our  conversation  was 
niueli  the  same  as  with  Mr.  W.  the  evening  preceding. 

"After  breakfast  the  plan  of  arrangements,  SO  far  as  they 
can  at  present  be  made,  was,  that  I  should  May  here  during 
the  remainder  of  the  week,  and  talk  matins  over,  and  on 
Monday  Start  for  London.  As  it  will  take  me  a  couple  of 
days  to  go,  and  some  little  time  to  get  myself  fixed  in  London, 

19 


218  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

the  commencement  of  the  week  was  thought  preferable  to  the 
latter  end ;  as  in  that  case  I  should  perhaps  be  confined  to  an 
inn  during  the  Sunday,  which  for  me  would  be  improper. 
Mr.  W.  then  went  to  town  on  foot,  and  I  am  to  accompany 
Mrs.  W.  in  a  carriage  at  three  P.  M.,  bring  out  my  luggage, 
now  at  the  inn,  and  dine  '  enfamille*  at  four. 

"If  I  have  time  before  the  closing  of  the  mail  for  the  New 
York  packet,  I  will  add  what  may  follow  at  dinner ;  if  not,  be 
assured  once  more  of  the  steadiness  of  my  purposes,  and,  for 
carrying  them  to  a  beneficial  issue,  of  my  entire  dependence 
on  the  Divine  mercy,  wisdom  and  goodness.  My  trust  is  not 
in  man  but  only  as  an  agent  of  the  good  God,  in  whose  hands 
are  all  hearts  and  all  means !  Do  continue  your  prayers ; 
continue  to  teach  the  dear  children  to  pray  for  their  father.    . 

"P.  S.  Dinner  and  tea  are  over,  and  Mr.  W.  and  myself 
have  had  a  long  conversation,  and  to-morrow  morning  he  is  to 
read  the  pamphlet  published  in  New  York.  It  is  sufficient  to 
say  he  seems  deeply  interested.  His  influence  among  the  clergy 
here  may  be  of  great  use  to  me  when  the  business  is  properly 
begun.  He  agrees  with  me  that  the  beginning  should  be  in 
London.  My  letter  to  Lord  Gambier,  and  that  to  Mr.  Sellon, 
he  thinks  will  be  of  great  importance.  He  is  to  see  all  my 
papers  on  this  business  to-morrow.  I  am  more  and  more 
pleased  with  his  judicious  remarks. 

"When  in  town  this  afternoon,  Mr.  Wiggin  and  myself 
attended  divine  service.  Prayers  are  read  and  the  psalms 
chanted  every  day  in  the  old  church  cathedral.  It  is  built 
after  the  Gothic  style,  and  of  all  things  I  ever  beheld  it  has  the 
most  solemn  effect ;  I  am  sorry  that  the  limits  of  this  postscript 
will  not  permit  me  to  describe  it.  The  piety  and  good  sense 
of  Mrs.  W.  become  more  and  more  conspicuous  on  acquaint- 
ance. She  has  made  me  a  present  of  a  volume  of  sermons 
entitled  '  Plain  Preaching,'  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mayow.  He  is 
now  gone  to  heaven ;  while  on  earth  he  was  curate  of  Ard- 
wick,  near  Manchester.  I  wish  I  could  read  them  to  you ; 
they  are  the  very  things  we  want  in  the  west.  Make  Dudley 
read  the  lessons  and  say  his  prayers  for  me.  Kiss  Henry  and 
Mary." 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  219 

"In  Continuation — Tuesday,  Nov.  11,  1823. 

"My  Dear  Wife:  — 

"You  will  be  surprised  to  hear  I  am  still  in  Manchester. 
Two  reasons  detained  me  a  few  days  longer  than  was  con- 
templated when  I  last  wrote  you.  One  was  to  have  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  my  nephew  on  his  return  from  Paris ;  the 
other,  to  form  an  acquaintance,  kindly  offered  me  through  Mr. 

W.,  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  S and  Mr.  J of  this  place. 

Both  of  these  events,  to  my  great  satisfaction,  took  place  yes- 
terday. Though  Mr.  W.'s  house  is  two  miles  from  town, 
both  the  gentlemen  walked,  in  a  morning's  visit  to  see  me. 
At  this  instance  of  civility  of  these  gentlemen  to  me,  a  stran- 
ger, Mrs.  W.  rejoiced,  I  think,  more  than  myself,  for  you 
must  know  she  has  taken  great  interest  in  the  errand  which 
brought  me  to  England.  The  importance  of  the  subject 
grows,  the  more  it  is  contemplated,  both  in  her  mind  and  that 

of  Mr'  W. 

"  Thursday,  13//*.  Still  in  Manchester.  'Why,'  you  will 
ask,  'am  I  detained  here?'  I  will  answer,  because  it  is 
thought  best.  I  need  not  be  in  a  hurry,  say  my  friends ;  any- 
thing that  looks  like  precipitation  will  do  no  good.  '  Your 
cause  is  good,  and  will  obtain  attention  in  good  time.  Stay 
here,  where  you  have  come  to  visit  an  old  friend,  and  here, 
through  him,  get  personally  acquainted  with  the  good,  judi- 
cious and  esteemed  characters,  and  you  will  not  be  the  loser.' 

This  advice  I  have  thought  proper  to  follow.     Dr.  S and 

the  Rev.  Mr.  J are  to  dine  this  day  at  Mr.  Wiggin's. 

"I  this  morning  took  a  ride  on  one  of  Mr.  W.'s  excellent 
horses.  Never  was  I  more  charmed  with  rural  scenery ;  all 
things,  on  the  right  and  on  the  left,  as  1  rode  round  in  a  cir- 
cuit towards  the  south,  all  things  1  saw,  fields,  gardens,  cot- 
tages, gentlemen's  seats,  churches,  chapels,  woodlands,  hedges, 
avenues  and  roads,  were  in  the  highest  state  of  perfection, 
livery  thing  was  in  its  place,  and  so  arranged  as  to  afford  the 
greatest  pleasure  to  the  beholder.  My  ride  was  about  ten  or 
twelve  miles. 

"Yesterday  Mr.  W.  observed  to  me,  that  he  had  just  fin- 
ished a  long  conversation  with  Mr.  J .    The  latter  informed 

him  that  he  had  partly  written  a  long  letter  to  London  about 


220  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 


me,  addressed,  as  he  believes,  to  the  author  of  the  article  of 
the  British  Critic  concerning  America ;  and  said  he  was  glad 
that  he  had  been  favored  with  Mr.  W.'s  company,  previously 

to  his  closing  of  the  letter.     Mr.  J ,  in  the  course  of  the 

conversation,  observed  to  Mr.  W.,  that,  from  the  view  he  had 
taken  of  the  subject,  few  things  could  be  plainer  than  that 
there  was  an  absolute  necessity,  if  the  Church  continued  in 
Ohio,  of  having  a  seminary  in  that  state  for  the  education  of 
young  men  for  the  ministry,  but  wished  it  to  be  in  connection 
with  the  Church  in  such  a  way  as  to  preclude  the  possibility 
of  there  ever  being  an  occasion  of  division. 

"  Mr.  W.  observed  (I  am  happy  that  he  did  so)  that  noth- 
ing was  more  a  purpose  of  his  own  heart  than  to  secure  what 
seemed  so  properly  the  object  of  my  wishes ;  that  all  his  pri- 
vate conversation  with  me  had  been  to  that  end ;  that  it  was 
equally  the  same  to  him  how  this  union  was  secured,  provided 
the  funds  collected  for  the  benefit  of  the  Church  in  Ohio  were 
not  diverted  from  that  object  to  any  other  purpose.  They 
might  secure  this  union  by  calling  the  seminary  in  Ohio  a 
'branch  school,'  or  put  it  more  immediately  under  the  Bish- 
ops, as  I  had  already  stated,  just  as  should  be  thought  best. 
This  was  very  pleasing  to  Mr.  J . 

"I  will  finish  this  letter  when  the  gentlemen  have  gone. 

"  11  o 'clock  at  night.  The  dinner  and  tea  are  over,  and  the 
Rev.  gentlemen  are  gone.  Everything  went  on  pleasantly, 
and  the  main  subject  not  neglected.  The  impression,  I  trust, 
is  favorable,  and  the  minute  things  concerning  my  visit  to 
London,  the  manner  of  introduction  and  the  mode  of  proceed- 
ing, pointed  out.  One  of  the  gentlemen  observed  that  his 
heart  was  engaged,  and  he  would  do  all  the  good  he  could. 
Everything  depends  on  my  success  in  London.     Parties  run 

high,  but  I  hope  to  avoid  their  ill  effects  on  me.     Mr.  J 

observed  that undoubtedly  had  succeeded,  or  would  suc- 
ceed, in  making  a  deep  impression  against  me,  but  believed 
that  I  can  succeed  in  my  endeavors  according  to  my  plan  of 
mildness  in  doing  it  away. 

"  Whatever  my  nameless  opponent  may  do,  one  thing  I 
hope  the  good  God  will  enable  me  to  do ;  that  is,  to  preserve  a 
forgiving  temper,  and  a  constant  readiness  to  meet  him  on  the 


BISHOP     CHASE    S     REMINISCENCES.  221 

ground  of  kindness  and  conciliation.  Never,  I  devoutly  pray, 
may  the  Church  in  America  be  torn  in  pieces  by  any  measures 
of  mine  to  do  her  good !  This  sentiment  I  think  was  mani- 
fested in  all  I  said  to  the  gentlemen. 

"  Before  they  left  me,  Mr.  J kindly  invited  both  Mr.  W. 

and  myself  to  dine  with  him  on  the  morrow,  at  three  P.  M.  If 
it  is  thought  best  to  delay  my  journey  to  London  till  Monday, 
the  invitation  will  be  accepted ;  if  not,  I  shall  set  off  to-mor- 
row for  the  metropolis.     Adieu." 

Bishop  Chase  to  T.  Wiggin,  Esq. 

"  London,  Nov.  18,  1823. 
"  Very  Dear  Friend  :  — 

"  When  calling  at  the  house  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  S ,  in 

Birmingham,  I  found  he  had  gone  to  Oxford,  and  as  I  in- 
tended to  go  through  that  place  on  my  way  to  London,  Mrs. 

S inclosed  the  note  of  introduction  with  another  letter, 

from  the  Rev.  Mr.  J ,  lying  by  her,  received  since  Mr. 

S went  from  home,  and  addressed  the  envelope  to  him  at 

the  house  of  the  provost  of  Oriel  college,  Oxford.  This  she 
begged  me  to  deliver.  I  had,  therefore,  nothing  further  to  do 
at  B.  but  to  take  some  rest,  which  I  much  needed — having 
slept  little  in  the  coach — and  be  ready  to  set  off  for  O.  at  six 
o'clock.  We  arrived  at  the  '  Angel '  inn  about  three  in  the 
morning,  and  after  a  few  hours'  sleep  and  a  refreshing  break- 
fast, I  called  (half  after  nine)  on  Mr.  S ,  at  the  house  of 

the  provost  of  Oriel. 

"I  found  him  alone,  taking  breakfast,  and  preparing  for  the 
delivery  of  his  sermon,  he  being  the  appointed  preacher  for  the 
morning.  It  seems  that  the  divine  service  on  these  days  is 
performed  in  each  college  separately,  and  that  the  officers  and 
fellows  of  the  several  colleges  meet  in  St.  Mary's  Church  to 
hear  the  sermon  only.  The  preacher,  however,  previous  to 
the  commencement  of  his  sermon,  solemnly  professes  his  duty 
to  offer  up  prayers  continually  for  the  good  estate  of  Christ's 
Church  militant,  for  the  king  and  all  in  lawful  authority,  and 
as  a  testimony  of  the  same,  closes  with  repeating  the  Lord's 
prayer.     As  1  witnessed  this  'bidding  of  prayers,'  performed 

in  the  impressive  manner  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  S ,  and  reflected 

19* 


222  bishop   chase's  reminiscences. 

that  this  in  which  he  stood  was  the  very  pulpit  from  which 
that  sainted  martyr  and  venerable  prelate,  Cranmer,  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  was  addressed  for  the  last  time,  I  could 
not  but  feel  a  sacred  awe,  seldom  if  ever  before  experienced. 
How  august  the  scene,  and  how  solemn  the  effect !  How  thus 
effectually  was  the  moral  soil  prepared  for  the  good  seed  of 
God's  holy  word ! 

"I  have  just  mentioned  the  impressive  manner  of  the  Rev. 

Mr.  S .      The  matter  of  his  sermon  was,  if  I  may  be 

allowed  to  judge,  in  no  respect  inferior  to  his  manner;  — 
chaste  in  his  language,  forcible  in  his  reasoning,  and  clear  in 
his  arrangement.  I  must  confess  him  an  excellent  preacher. 
After  the  sermon  we  walked  around  the  hallowed  ground  of 
Oxford  churches  and  colleges.  '  Here,'  said  he,  as  we  passed 
a  particular  spot,  '  here  were  Cranmer,  Ridley,  and  Latimer, 
put  to  death — here  were  their  earthly  bodies  consumed  by  the 
flames — and  hence  their  spirits  ascended  to  heaven.'  How 
these  words  and  this  scene  affected  me,  I  leave  you  to  judge, 
for  I  cannot  describe. 

"  I  went  to  the  '  Angel,'   and  soon  Mr.  S came  to  my 

room  and  presented  me  the  respectful  compliments  of  the  pro- 
vost of  Oriel,  inviting  me  to  dinner ;  which  invitation  I  ac- 
cepted, and,  after  attending  Church  in  the  afternoon,  waited 
on  the  provost.  He  received  me  very  graciously,  and  after 
dinner  invited  me  to  attend  prayers  in  the  chapel.  The  ser- 
vice was  performed  by  the  vice-provost,  the  Rev.  Mr.  T . 

The  chapel  was  full  of  students,  and  the  whole  solemnity 
conducted  in  the  most  pious  manner.  When  I  contemplated 
so  many  young  men,  all  communicants  at  the  altar,  worship- 
ping, in  an  audible  and  reverent  manner,  the  God  of  Heaven, 
and  pouring  out  their  prayers  and  praises  with  one  voice, 
through  Jesus  Christ,  I  could  hardly  believe  myself  on  earth. 
The  insight,  though  faint,  which  St.  John  has  given  us  of  the 
celestial  worship,  made  me  almost  fancy  I  was,  in  coming  to 
England,  mistaken  in  the  path  which  led  me,  and  had  been 
conducted  to  the  happy  place  where  we  all  are  longing  finally 
to  arrive. 

"  After  prayers  were  over  we  repaired  to  the  provost's  study. 
I  cannot  say  too  much  in  praise  of  this  gentleman.    I  think  if 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  223 

I  were  to  describe,  from  so  short  an  acquaintance,  a  most  per- 
fect gentleman,  scholar,  and  Christian  minister,  I  should  desire 
the  provost  of  Oriel  to  sit  for  the  picture. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  add,  that,  from  the  conversation  with  which 
the  Rev.  Mr.  S honored  me,  I  have  but  faint  hopes  of  suc- 
cess in  the  errand  which  brought  me  to  this  country.  He  is 
the  particular  friend  of  my  nameless  opponent,  and,  as  I  under- 
stand, had  seen  him  on  his  way  to  London.  Trusting,  how- 
ever, in  the  directing  and  sustaining  hand  of  the  good  God  who 
'hath  hitherto  helped,'  I  shall  go  on,  I  hope,  in  the  way  which 
His  holy  providence  shall  point  out.  Ever  most  gratefully 
vours  Philander  Chase. 

"ToT.  Wig  gin,  Esq." 

The  closing  part  of  the  above  extract  contains  but  a  partial 
view  of  the  fact  to  which  it  alludes.  Well  does  the  writer  of 
this  memoir  remember  the  painful  feelings  he  endured,  in  wit- 
nessing the  decided  opposition  in  this  gentleman's  mind  to  the 
application  for  Ohio.  He  said  he  had  learned  the  whole  state 
of  the  case  from  another  quarter.  "  Perhaps,"  said  the  writer, 
"  if  you  were  to  take  a  view  of  the  whole  case,  you  would 
alter  your  opinion."  Saying  this,  he  begged  him  to  accept  the 
little  pamphlet  containing  the  reasons  for  a  seminary  in  Ohio. 
Some  time  afterwards  he  said  he  hoped  the  writer  "would  not 
trouble  the  provost  with  the  subject,"  which  being  so  singular 
a  request  from  so  excellent  a  clergyman,  the  writer  had  no 
reply  to  make,  but  walked  on  in  silence  to  the  provost's  din- 
ner, at  which  there  was,  as  the  gentleman  had  desired,  nothing 

said  of  Ohio. 

After  prayers  in  the  provost's  study,  there  were  many 
inquiries  leading  to  the  question  of  the  errand  which  had 
brought  him  to  England,  and  to  the  location  and  extent  of  his 
diocese,  so  that  the  writer  with  some  difficulty  observed  the 
injunction  of  the  gentleman  just  mentioned.  Maps  and  atlases 
were  produced,  in  order  to  form  a  correct  idea  of  Western 
America  ;  but  none  of  a  Late  date  could  !»«i  tound  touching  that 
BUbjeetj  so  that  the  writer  w;is  obliged  to  mark  with  a  pencil 
the  boundaries  of  his  jurisdiction. 

The  vice-provost  accompanied  him  to  the  "Angel."    When 


224  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

the  heart  is  wrung  with  agony,  how  precious  and  grateful  to 
the  feelings  is  the  balm  even  of  civil  treatment !  This  worthy 
gentleman  invited  the  writer  to  stroll  on,  to  view  by  moonlight 
the  venerable  walls  of  Magdalen  college.  As  we  heard  the 
deep-toned  bell  from  the  lofty  towers  of  this  monument  of 
Wolsey's  patriotism,  and  considered  that  it  was  but  one 
among  the  many  evidences  of  England's  greatness,  and  of  the 
means  of  grace  which  she  has  for  so  many  years  enjoyed, 
through  all  the  changes  and  chances  of  this  mortal  life,  and 
still  enjoys  at  the  hands  of  a  Heavenly  Saviour,  who  tasted 
death  that  all  might  live,  and  whose  gospel  was  intended  for 
the  poor  and  needy,  he  could  not  but  think  she  would,  when 
duly  informed  on  the  subject,  rise  superior  to  the  contracted 
policy  that  had  been  manifested  by  the  misinformed  gentle- 
man he  had  just  left  at  the  provost's. 

In  returning  to  the  Angel  the  writer  spoke  to  the  vice-pro- 
vost something  of  his  affairs,  and  at  parting  gave  him  his  little 
pamphlet,  with  the  request  that  it  might  be  returned  in  the 
morning  before  setting  off  for  London.  Accordingly,  in  the 
morning,  at  eight  o'clock,  of  the  16th  of  November,  1823,  the 
pamphlet  was  returned  with  the  following  note,  which  the 
writer  received  and  read  in  the  coach : 

"Oriel  College,  Nov.  16,  1823. 
"Rt.  Rev.  Sir:  — 

"I  have  read  with  deep  interest  the  pamphlet  you  were 

kind  enough  to  lend  me,  and  I  return  it  with  many  thanks. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Rt.  Rev.  sir, 

"  Your  very  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

"J.  E.  Tyler." 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

RECEPTION   IN    LONDON. 


What  signifies  the  outward  pleasantness  through  a  beauti- 
ful country,  when  all  is  gloom  and  anxiety  within !  As  the 
writer  passed  along,  he  thought  of  the  evidences  he  had  wit- 


bishop   chase's  reminiscences.  225 

nessed  in  Oxford  of  the  fulfilment  of  the  dreadful  threats  made 
in  New  York,  and  now  began  to  see  them  realized.  This  was 
what  was  past ;  and  what  now  to  come?  London— a  world 
within  itself — and  not  a  soul  within  its  vast  bosom  with 
whom  he  had  the  least  acquaintance ;  and  what  was  more, 
none  had  ever  heard  of  him  but  through  a  hostile  medium. 
There  was  one  exception  to  this,  —  the  author  who  had  spoken 
well  of  the  writer  in  the  British  Critic ;  but  he  knew  him  not, 
nor  where  to  find  him.  Like  a  star,  he  had  once  shone 
through  a  cloud  to  entice  the  writer  to  commence  the  danger- 
ous voyage  ;  but  another  dark  cloud  had  now  arisen  and  hid- 
den his  bright  face,  perhaps  forever. 

Hyde  Park  is  a  pleasant  place,  and  Piccadilly  is  a  long  and 
noble  street.  Who  has  not  heard  of  their  fame  ?  And  what 
one,  among  the  millions  whose  hearts  have  bounded  with 
delight,  as  they  have  passed  through  thpso  scenes,  can  ha"Vo 
the  faintest  idea  of  the  misery  of  the  writer's  feelings  as  he  is 
following  their  train?  So  much  does  our  happiness  depend, 
not  on  outward,  but  inward  causes.  The  very  names  of  these 
places  are  to  this  moment  associated  with  feelings  of  inde- 
scribable distress. 

As  the  coach  turned  down  from  Piccadilly  to  High  Holborn, 
the  coachman,  while  setting  down  some  other  passengers, 
asked  the  writer  where  he  would  stop  ?  Alas  !  he  knew  not 
what  to  answer,  but  simply  said,  "  Drive  on."  The  coach 
stopped  at  the  "  Bell,"  and  the  writer  stopped.  It  was  a  place 
for  coach  offices  and  stables.  The  house  was  tenanted  by 
decent  persons,  and  the  writer  asked  to  be  allowed  the  privi- 
lege of  a  retired  room.  None  but  a  small  one  could  be 
afforded,  but  that  was  neat  and  soon  had  a  comfortable  fire  in 
it,  a  table,  and  pen  and  ink.  Here  the  writer  spent  his  first 
night  in  London. 

It  was  not  far  from  St.  Paul's  church,  and  in  the  chapter- 
house of  this  cathedral  lived  the  worthy  Sergeant,  Mr.  Sellon. 
The  writer  was  the  bearer  of  a  letter  to  this  gentleman  from 
his  son,  the  rector  of  St.  Ann's  church,  N«\v  Fork  :  and  before 
seating  himself  in  his  little  bed-room,  he  weai  to  the  chapter- 
house. The  Sergeant  wraa  at  home,  and  made  many  inquiries 
concerning  ma  son.    On  returning  to  his  inn,  the  writer  made 


226  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

the  following  entry  in  a  letter  addressed  to  his  wife  in  Amer- 
ica :  — 

"  Mr.  Sergeant  Sellon  told  me  much  of  the  affairs  in  London 

— what  [my  nameless  opponent]   is   doing — that   the 

latter  had  a  printed  paper ■,  in  opposition  to  my  errand,  in 
circulation :   and  that  no  stone  was  left  unturned  to  ruin  my 

cause. 

"I  have  not  seen  the  paper,  but  he  says  he  will  shew  it 

me. 

"I  gave  him  the  parcel  which  Mrs. sent  to  my  name- 
less opponent — her  husband.  He  said  he  would  despatch  a 
messenger  with  it  to  his  lodgings  directly.  Mr.  Sergeant  Sel- 
lon went  with  me  to  find  lodgings,  but  none  offering  till  the 
time  of  his  court,  the  business  was  deferred.     I  had  time  to 

call  on  the  Rev.  Mr.  C ,  Hoxtin  square.      It  is  a  long  way 

from  Holborn.  He  was  not  in.  I  left  the  letter  of  his  brother, 
who  lives  in  America,  with  a  note  from  myself.  As  I  expect 
Mr.  Sergeant  Sellon  every  minute  to  call  on  me  to  seek  lodg- 
ings, I  close  here  for  the  present." 

The  above-quoted  words  is  an  extract  from  the  first  letter 
ever  indited  by  the  writer  in  the  city  of  London.  The  reader 
perceives  it  consists  of  facts  only,  without  a  word  of  reflection ; 
the  latter  were  too  painful,  too  agonizing,  to  be  committed  to 
paper. 

The  next  letter  is  to  the  same,  and  as  follows :  — 

"  At  my  lodgings,  No.  10  Feather  stone  buildings,  ) 
Holborn,  half  past  six  o'clock,  Nov.  18,  1823.      $ 

"  I  have  been  thus  particular  in  my  date  of  time  and  place, 
because  it  is  a  kind  of  new  era  with  me.  I  have  been  about 
so  much  of  late  on  the  wide  and  boisterous  ocean  of  life,  both 
in  the  letter  and  moral  of  the  expression,  that  anything  like  a 
home  at  the  end  of  my  voyage  seems  to  bring  along  with  it 
delightful,  at  least  soothing,  sensations. 

"  My  landlady,  Mrs. ,  for  I  have  not  yet  inquired  her 

name,  pleased  both  Mr.  Sellon  and  myself  more  than  any  on 
whom  we  called  for  lodgings.     In  the  quiet  streets,  mostly 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  227 

running  at  right  angles  with  the  busy  and  crowded  Holbom, 
we  walked  together  for  an  hour  and  a  half,  and  whenever  we 
saw  at  the  windows  a  card  inserted,  '  Apartments  to  let,  fur- 
nished,' if  the  house  in  other  respects  denoted  comfort,  (and 
they  almost  all  do,)  there  we  entered  and  made  our  inquiries. 
Mr.  S.  being  the  speaker,  and  knowing  what  I  wanted,  I  had 
nothing  to  do  but  tell  my  mind,  when  we  went  out,  as  to  what 
struck  me  in  the  expression  and  manners  of  the  several  per- 
sons who  appeared  as  the  mistresses  of  the  different  houses. 
We  seldom  disagreed  in  our  judgment  of  their  characters ; 
whether  right  or  wrong,  no  one  can  tell.  At  length  we  came 
to  the  house  where  I  am  now  writing.  A  neatly-dressed 
woman,  modest  and  somewhat  retiring  in  her  address,  showed 
the  apartments.  They  suited  us,  and  the  bargain  was  made, 
— one  and  a  half  guineas  per  week. 

"  How  this  will  turn  out,  in  point  of  comfort,  I  know  not. 
Here  I  am,  however,  alone,  with  full  leisure  to  reflect  on  the 
past,  contemplate  the  present,  and  anticipate  the  future.  One 
thing  seems  certain,  that  all  things  are  done  and  doing  here  in 
London  to  render  null  all  my  efforts  to  benefit  the  Church  in 
the  western  parts  of  our  dear  country.  My  opponent  must 
surely  think  what  he  is  doing  is  right.  I  will  not  reproach 
him.  On  the  contrary,  most  devoutly  do  I  pray  for  his  health 
and  happiness ;  and  if  he  is  wrong,  most  humbly  do  I  implore 
mercy  for  him,  even  as  I  would  desire  mercy  for  myself  should 
I  be  in  the  wrong.  With  this  state  of  mind  and  heart,  I  am 
enabled  to  rest  quiet  and  contented. 

"  And  this  great  blessing  of  contentment  I  attribute  to  the 
good  Spirit  of  God,  and  give  him  all  the  praise.  Considering 
the  difficulties  that  surround  me,  I  wonder  that  it  is  so.  I 
never  felt  more  sensible  of  God's  support,  and  of  the  comfort 
of  his  Holy  Spirit.  Yea,  the  present  in  this  respect  far  exceeds 
all  my  former  enjoyments.  When  I  was  prosperous  in  worldly 
things,  I  felt  joy  and  gladness,  but  it  was  different,  certainly, 
far  different  from  what  falls  to  my  lot  at  present  My  pros- 
perity then  made  me  unwilling  to  die.  Now  the  pleasure  I 
feel  in  reposing  with  a  contented  mind  on  the  wise  allotments 
of  Divine  Providence,  disarms  even  death  of  his  tenors, 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.     I  know  1  am  liable  to  great 


228  BISHOP   chase's   reminiscences. 

deception,  and  that  perhaps,  if  my  end  should  approach, 
'trembling  might  enter  into  my  bones,'  where  now  'my 
strength  seemeth  to  dwell.'  Yet  I  do  know,  if  I  know  any- 
thing, that  I  hope  and  trust  that  the  good  God  would  support 
me,  if  I  sincerely  pray  unto  him,  in  the  hour  and  trial  of  a 
death-bed,  prepared  and  fitted  by  his  hand,  and  not  by  my  own 

weakness. 

"  Mr.  S.  observed  to  me,  as  we  were  walking  together,  that 
he  had  at  intervals  to-day  nearly  finished  reading  the  '  Pam- 
phlet of  Reasons.'  '  You  have  more  to  contend  with,'  said 
he,  '  than  I  had  thought.'  My  answer  was,  that  he  was  so 
much  in  the  right  when  making  such  an  expression,  that  I 
felt  myself  there  was  none  to  help  me  but  God.  His  answer 
was  that  of  the  prophet  to  his  servant :  '  Fear  not,  for  they 
that  be  with  us  are  more  than  they  that  be  with  them.' 

"  I  am  to  dine  with  Mr.  S.  to-morrow  at  half  past  five.  In 
the  morning  I  shall  go  a  few  miles  from  London,  to  see  the 

Rev.  Mr.  X ,  who,  I  have  learned,  is  the  bosom  friend  of 

t   my   opponent.     They  have  been   seen   arm   in   arm 

together  in  this  city;  yet  I  am  of  opinion  it  is  my  duty  to  go 
and  see  him,  and  in  person  deliver  the  note  of  introduction 

from  the  Rev.  Mr.  J ,  of  Manchester,  and  present  him, 

also,  my  '  Pamphlet  of  Reasons.' " 

In  a  letter  to  his  friend  in  Manchester,  the  following  state- 
ment is  made :  — 

"On  the  19th  inst.  (Nov.)  I  called  on  the  Rev.  Mr.  X , 

with  a  note  of  introduction,  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  J ,  of 

Manchester,  was  so  kind  as  to  give  me.  He  said  that  he  was 
sorry  I  had  come  to  England  on  this  errand,  and  that  he  could 
give  me  no  encouragement— that  one  application  for  an 
American  college  and  for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  for- 
eign parts,  had  already  been  made  to  the  Society  at  Bartlett's 
Buildings,  and  had  failed,  and  that  mine  would  meet  with  no 
better  success.  This,  with  some  remarks  on  the  prior  claims 
of  Nova  Scotia,  Canada,  Scotland,  and  the  General  Theologi- 
cal Seminary  in  New  York,  and  also  some  strictures  on 
another  party  or  faction  in  this  country  who  might  help  me, 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  229 

but  from  whom  no  correct  Churchman  would  accept  relief!  — 
was  the  substance  of  his  address  to  me.  At  the  close,  he  took 
out  his  watch  and  apprised  me  that  he  had  pressing  engage- 
ments. 

"  I  took  the  liberty  of  assuring  him  that,  as  I  had  come  to 
England  in  quest  of  relief  for  a  suffering  branch  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church,  I  knew  no  party,  and  hoped  not  to  know 
any;  that  what  I  did  was,  I  humbly  conceived,  consistent 
with  the  laws  of  God,  and  in  fulfilment  of  the  sacred  precepts 
of  the  Gospel,  and  in  perfect  harmony  with  the  constitution 
and  canons  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  my  country. 
That  I  might  not,  however,  be  misunderstood  either  in  my 
words  or  in  the  matter  of  my  application,  I  begged  he  would 
read  a  pamphlet  which  I  addressed,  before  leaving  America, 
to  the  senior  Bishop.  He  received  this,  and  I  respectfully 
took  leave.  What  my  feelings  were  in  going  to  my  lodgings, 
I  leave  with  you  to  judge." 

"No.  10,  Feather  stone  buildings )  Nov.  21,  ; 
Friday  night,  half  past  ten.  ) 

"My  Dear  Wife  :  — 

"  You  know  I  had  letters  from  Mr.  Clay,  of  Kentucky,  to 
Lord  Gambicr  and  Alexander  Baring.  The  former  lives  in 
Buckinghamshire,  near  Uxbridge,  about  fifteen  miles  from 
London.  I  was  demurring  whether  in  person  to  see  him,  or 
enclose  his  letter  with  a  note,  desiring  one  in  return,  to  signify 
when  and  where,  whether  in  town  or  in  the  country,  he  would 
have  leisure  to  see  me,  at  the  same  time  giving  my  address. 
On  reflection  I  chose  the  latter,  and  shall  in  the  morning  put 
my  letter,  with  its  enclosure,  into  the  post-office. 

"I  called  at  Mr.  Baring's,  and  found  that  he  also  is  in  the 
country.     I  left  my  letter  and  address. 

"  Your  kindness  to  Philander  while  with  you  in  New  York, 
like  oil  to  a  flame,  increases  more  and  more  my  love  for  you. 
Surely  he  will  bless  you  with  his  dying  breath  as  the  best  of 
mothers  !     Dear  suffering  son  of  my  best  hopef!     His  pains 

are  those  of  the  body,  mine  those but  DUfhed  be  every 

rising  sigh  I  With  the  sustaining  Spirit  of  God,  who  would 
not  rejoice  m  tribulation  1 

20 


230  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

"I  dined  with  Mr.  S .     He  told  me  he  had  seen  and 

conversed  with  ,   [my  opponent,]   and  that   there  was 

much  more  in  his  arguments  against  me  than  he  at  first  had 
apprehended ;  that  there  was  much  reason  in  the  argument  in 
favor  of  having  no  separate  institution  in  Ohio,  and  that  the 
education  of  a  few  ministers  should  be  provided  for  some  other 
way,  perhaps  by  private  tuition,  to  supply  present  wants ! ! 
After  this,  you  may  well  suppose  my  tea  was  not  well  rel- 
ished. 

"  Saturday,  22d.  Yisited  Lackington's  book  warehouse.  It 
is  a  wonderful  establishment,  built  story  above  story,  running 
up  in  a  spiral  stair-case,  or,  rather,  inclined  plane,  nearly  as 
high  as  a  common  church  steeple.  This  has  been  a  source  of 
great  emolument  to  persons  of  several  generations.  I  pur- 
chased Bishop  Patrick's  '  Parable  of  the  Pilgrim,'  with  which 
I  am  uncommonly  pleased.  The  'notices'  were  on  the  coun- 
ter; nobody  knew  me. 

"On  Sunday  I  attended  divine  service  in  St.  Paul's,  St. 
Andrew's  and  St.  John's  chapels,  and  was  highly  edified  and 
pleased.  In  the  evening  Mr.  S.  called,  and  put  into  my  hands 
a  printed  paper,  being  a  notice  to  the  British  Church  and 
public,  warning  them  against  the  Bishop  of  Ohio,  who,  '  not- 
withstanding all  the  remonstrances,  the  author  has  heard  is 
already  arrived  in  England.' !  !  I  cannot  say  that  this  gave 
me  any  new  pang  which  I  had  not  before  experienced  ;  but  it 
opens  old  wounds  afresh,  and  calls  forth  renewed  prayers  for 
Divine  support. 

"On  Monday  morning  I  received  the  following  note  from 

Mr.  Baring:  — 

"  '  Highlands,  November  23,  1823. 

"  'Sir : — I  have  received,  in  the  country,  the  letter  you  did 
me  the  honor  of  leaving  with  me,  from  my  much-respected 
friend  Mr.  Clay,  and  being  unfortunately  prevented  from  being 
for  some  time  in  town,  I  beg  permission  to  assure  you  how 
much  I  shall  feel  gratified  in  having  it  in  my  power  to  be  of 
any  service  to  you,  during  your  residence  in  this  country. 

"  '  The  first  day  of  my  return  to  town  I  shall  have  the 
honor  of  paying  you  my  respects ;  and  in  the  mean  time  I 
have  desired  my  son  to  call  and  take  the  liberty  of  inquiring 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  231 

whether  his  services  can  any  way  be  useful  to  you.  I  much 
regret  that  my  unavoidable  absence  prevents  my  personally 
paying,  without  delay,  the  respect  which  is  due  to  your  emi- 
nent station  and  character. 

"  'Sir,  I  have  the  honor  to  be  your  very  obedient  servant, 

"  'Alexander  Baring."5 


Reference  is  made  in  the  foregoing  letter  to  a  note  of  Mr. 
Clay,  and  its  envelope.     They  follow :  — 

"  Lexington,  Ky.,  Aug.  20,  1823. 
"My  Lord:  — 

"I  beg  leave  to  introduce  to  your  Lordship  the  Rev.  Phi- 
lander Chase,  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in 
the  state  of  Ohio,  who  visits  England  on  some  object  con- 
nected with  the  prosperity  of  the  Church.  Mr.  Chase  is  a 
learned,  pious,  and  highly-esteemed  clergyman,  deserving  of 
all  kindness  and  civility.  I  hope  it  may  be  convenient  to 
allow  him  the  honor  of  the  acquaintance  of  your  Lordship,  for 
whose  character  he  has  a  high  regard. 

"  It  has  been  some  time  since  I  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing 
directly  from  your  Lordship ;  the  last  time,  I  think,  was 
through  my  friend,  poor  Loundes,  who  has  since  paid  the  debt 
which  we  have  all  to  discharge.  I  pray  you,  nevertheless,  to 
believe  that  I  still  cherish  those  strong  sentiments  of  esteem 
and  respect  for  your  Lordship  which  were  excited  during  our 
acquaintance  in  Europe;  and  that  I  have  the  honor  to  be, 
faithfully, 

"  Your  Lordship's  obedient  servant, 

"H.Clay. 

"  Lord  Gambler,  fyc.  $*c." 

The  following  is  the  envelope  enclosing  the  above  note:  — 

"London,  Nov.  20,  1823. 
"  To  the  Rt.  Hon.  Lord  Gambier  :  — 

"  Bishop  Chase  takes  the  liberty  of  enclosing  to  your  Lord- 
ship a  letter  of  introduction,  with  which  he  waa  favored  by 
the  Hon.  Henry  Clay,  of  Kentucky,  N.  America.  His  apology 
for  so  doing,  instead  of  waiting  on  you  in  person,  he  begs 
leave  to  make,  should  your  Lordship  see  lit  to  honor  him  with 
your  acquaintance. 


232  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

"  The  Church  Missionary  Society  some  time  ago  favored 
him,  in  common  with  the  rest  of  the  Bishops  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  America,  with  a  copy  of  their  '•Register ■,' 
consisting  of  several  volumes.  For  this  instance  of  their  kind- 
ness he  has  not  as  yet,  by  reason  of  his  great  distance  in  the 
interior  of  America,  returned  his  grateful  acknowledgments. 
He  begs  leave  now,  through  your  Lordship,  whose  name  is  at 
the  head  of  that  society,  to  discharge  this  pleasing  duty.  The 
work  alluded  to,  while  it  has  apprised  him  of  what  others  are 
doing  to  spread  the  gospel  and  build  up  the  kingdom  of  the 
Blessed  Redeemer,  has  been  the  means,  he  trusts,  of  much 
good  to  himself.  It  has  prompted  him  to  try,  through  Divine 
assistance,  to  imitate  what  often  with  great  emotion  he  has 
read  of  in  others. 

"A  letter  addressing,  (at  No.  10  Featherstone  buildings, 
near  Holborn,)  and  informing  whether  in  town  or  in  country, 
and  at  what  time  your  Lordship  will  be  at  leisure,  would 
greatly  oblige  him." 

"  London,  Tuesday,  Nov.  25,  1823. 
"My  Dear  Wife:  — 

"This  morning  I  received  a  letter  from  Lord  Gambier,  of 

which  the  following  is  a  copy :  — 

"  l  Iver  Grove,  near  Uxbridge,  Nov.  24,  1823. 
"  '  To  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Chase  : 

"'Dear  Sir: — I  had  yesterday  the  pleasure  of  receiving 
your  note  of  the  20th  instant,  enclosing  a  letter  from  my 
esteemed  friend,  the  Hon.  Henry  Clay,  and  I  feel  much  grati- 
fied by  the  opportunity  he  has  given  me  of  having  the  pleasure 
of  an  acquaintance  with  you,  and  of  rendering  you  any 
friendly  offices  during  your  stay  in  this  country. 

'"I  regret  that  my  absence  from  London  deprives  me  of 
the  honor  of  waiting  upon  you  in  person,  and  at  the  same  time 
request  of  you  to  favor  me  with  the  pleasure  of  your  company 
at  my  humble  residence  for  a  few  days,  when  it  may  be  con- 
venient for  you  so  to  do.  I  would  mention  the  ensuing  week, 
if  it  should  happen  to  suit  you. 

"  '  On  Thursday,  the  4th  of  Dec,  I  have  to  attend  and  pre- 
side at  an  anniversary  meeting  of  an  Auxiliary  Bible  Society 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  233 

in  London.  You  may  perhaps  not  dislike  to  be  present  on 
the  occasion,  after  which  I  could  convey  you  in  my  carriage 
to  this  place,  if  it  should  be  agreeable  to  you  to  accompany  me 

hither. 

111 1  am,  Sir,  your  sincere  and  most  humble  servant, 

"  'Gambier.' 

"  ANSWER. 

"  '  No.  10  Feather  stone  buildings  ^  ) 
Holbom,  Nov.  25,  1823.  ) 

"  l  To  the  Rt.  Hon.  Lord  Gambier  : 

"  'My  Lord:— I  had  the  honor  of  receiving  this  morning 
your  much  esteemed  favor  of  the  24th,  and  beg  leave  in  return 
to  assure  your  Lordship,  that  it  affords  me  great  pleasure  to 
comply  with  your  very  kind  invitation  therein  contained.  Of 
the  place  of  meeting  of  the  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  1  am  not 
apprised,  and  being  a  stranger  in  London,  I  know  not  through 
what  channel  I  can  be  so,  except  through  the  goodness  of  your 
Lordship.  A  note  signifying  this,  left  at  my  lodgings,  will  be 
gratefully  received  by  your  Lordship's  very  sincere  friend  and 
most  humble  servant,  P-  Chase. 

On  the  25th  the  writer  dined  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  C .    On 

the  27th  the  following  letter  was  written  to  Mr.  W.,  his  Man- 
chester friend :  — 

"No.  10  Featherstone  buildings,        1 
London,  Tuesday,  Nov.  27,  1823.  ) 
"  Very  Dear  Sir  :  — 

"  As  you  have,  in  addition  to  the  many  instances  of  kind- 
ness shown  me  at  Piatt  Hall,  still  followed  me  hither  with 
your  proffers  of  love,  I  should  accuse  myself  of  unpardonable 
ingratitude,  did  I  not  assure  you  of  my  sincere  thanks  to  Al- 
mighty God,  for  throwing  me  and  my  cause  under  your 
notice.  I  do  not  know  what  I  could  do  without  your  inter- 
vening goodness. 

"By  conversation  held  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  C ,  I  per- 
ceived how  much  the  papers  published  against  me  by 

had  affected  the  public  mind.  All  classes  of  persons  are  filled 
with  prejudices  against  me.  It  is  thought  (as  I  Was  left  natu- 
rally to  conjecture)  that  all  this  great  opposition  to  me  cannot 

20* 


234  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

originate  in  nothing.  To  justify  it,  there  seems  a  necessity  of 
inferring  at  least  a  question  of  purity  of  motives.  This  jaun- 
dices every  eye,  so  that  nothing  appears  in  its  true  colors ;  and 
as  the  mind,  when  once  let  loose  on  the  subject  of  integrity, 
generally  goes  all  lengths,  it  is  no  more  than  what  might  be 
expected,  that  the  very  means  which  are  used  to  manifest  my 
disinterestedness  should  have  a  contrary  effect. 

"Mr.  C observed,  'It  is  necessary  to  have,  in  the  pres- 
ent stage  of  your  business,  the  best  of  references,  and  those 
too  in  London,  where  it  is  to  commence.  Your  cause  is  good, 
and  your  opponent  can't  make  head  against  it,  if  you  can 
make  it  unquestionably  appear  that  you  are  not  guided  by 
sinister  motives ;  I  mean,  in  plain  English,  that  the  moneys 
you  solicit  will  be  faithfully  applied ;  and  to  ensure  this,  there 
must  be  those  in  England  who  will  stand  pledged.'  Thus  far 
the  words  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  C . 

"Now,  dear  Mr.  W.,  to  obviate  these  difficulties  and  to 
strike  at  the  very  root  of  the  evil,  I  beg  your  attention  to  the 
following  plan :  — 

"  'The  Bishop  of  Ohio,  North  America,  will  give  his  farm 
and  all  things  thereunto  pertaining,  as  described  in  the  an- 
nexed schedule,  to  the  society  or  school  for  the  education  of 
young  men  for  the  Christian  ministry,  to  be  organized  by  the 
convention  of  the  Protestant  Church  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  N. 
America,  as  nearly  as  may  be  consistent  with  the  funds  ob- 
tained, according  to  the  plan  or  outline  in  the  printed  letter  of 
Bishop  Chase  to  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop  White,  of  Philadel- 
phia, dated  New  York,  Sept.  23d,  1823,  whenever  there  shall 
have  been  given dollars. 

"  '  It  is  understood  that,  should  the  convention  of  the  Prot- 
estant Episcopal  Church  in  the  diocese  of  Ohio  prefer  any 
other  place  for  the  location  of  said  school,  and  for  that  purpose 
will  give,  or  procure  to  be  given,  a  farm,  equal  or  superior  in 
value  in  buildings  and  conveniences  to  that  offered  by  the 
Bishop  of  Ohio ;  in  that  case,  he,  the  Bishop  of  Ohio,  shall  be 
exonerated  from  the  above,  his  promise,  concerning  his  farm. 

"'It  is  also  understood,  that  the  moneys  given  to  the  said 

school  as  above  shall  be  deposited  in  the  hands  of ,  (I 

Hope  to  get  permission  to  insert  the  name  of  Lord  G.,)  and  not 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  235 

transferred  to  America  until  his  Lordship  shall  have  been  sat- 
isfied, through  the  Hon.  Henry  Clay,  who  is  frequently  in 
Ohio,  that  all  the  above  conditions  are  in  good  faith  fulfilled; 
or  in  case  of  Mr.  Clay's  death  or  inability  to  attend  to  the 
business,  through  the  intervention  of  the  governor,  for  the 
time  being,  of  the  state  of  Ohio.'  * 

"Write  me,  I  pray  you,  whether  this  crude  plan  suit  you. 

I  have  not  time  to  correct  it.  Something  of  this  sort  I  think 
of  proposing  when  with  his  Lordship  next  week.  I  want  your 
advice  and  judgment.     Pray  write  me  soon." 

"37  Steward  street.  Bishops  gate,  Nov.  26,  1823. 

II  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Chase  : 

"Sir: — At  the  request  of  Lord  Gambier,  I  have  the  pleas- 
ure to  enclose  a  platform  ticket  for  the  ensuing  meeting  of  the 
N.  E.  London  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  and  beg  leave,  in  the 
name  of  the  committee,  respectfully  to  solicit  the  honor  of 
your  attendance  on  the  occasion. 

"I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Rev.  Sir,  yours  most  respectfully, 

"James  A.  Brown,  Assistant  Sec." 

Letter  from  Mr.  T.  Wiggin  to  the  writer :  — 

"Manchester,  Nov.  29, 1S23. 
"  My  Dear  Friend  : — - 

"  Be  assured  you  have  the  continued  best  wishes  of  all  at 
Piatt  Hall,  and  although  your  first  effort  in  town  has  been 
somewhat  discouraging,  I  still  hope  for  eventual  success.  The 
goodness  of  your  cause  will  plead  most  powerfully  where  it  is 
known,  and  I  cannot  willingly  believe  that  a  whole  nation  will 
refuse  to  listen  to  it. 

"  I  cannot  perceive  any  defect  in  your  sketches  oi proposals, 
and  think  they  will  prove,  to  every  person  disposed  to  judge 
fairly,  that  your  motives  are  pure — I  believe  they  are  perfectly 
so  —  and  if  it  should  finally  become  necessary  to  give  '  refer- 
ences' in  town,  I  can  assist  you  as  far  as  may  be  requisite." 
[Here  the  page  is  half  filled  with  the  most  rcspect;il>l«>  names.] 
"1  trust  you  will  not  need  this  assistance,  but  you  may  com- 
mand it  when  wanted.     I  know  you  arc  unwilling  to  proceed 

*  Tbis  deed  wns  duly  executed  to  Lord  Gtmbier. 


236  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

to  extremities,  or  to  take  any  course  that  has  a  tendency  to 

destroy  a  friendly  intercourse  with ;  yet  I  foresee  that  you 

may  be  compelled  to  take  ground  decidedly  opposite  to  that 
he  has  taken,  and  if  'motives'  are  to  be  questioned  on  slight 
grounds,  or  where  no  one  action  of  a  man's  life  could  excite 
a  remote  suspicion  that  they  were  impure,  how  can  he  expect 
to  escape  a  similar  scrutiny  1  There  is  more  scope  for  ambi- 
tion in than  in  Ohio,  where,  if  you  should  succeed  to  the 

extent  of  your  wishes,  but  little  personal  honor  or  emolument 
can  be  expected,  unless  your  indefatigable  efforts  should  have 
your  wished-for  effect, — of  protecting  the  churches  you  have 
already  formed,  and  extending  genuine  religion.  If  such  effects 
should  result  from  your  plan,  it  would  be  just  what  your 
friends,  and  all  who  may  lend  you  assistance,  would  wish." 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

SCENES   IN   LONDON THE   WRITER   BECOMES    ACQUAINTED   WITH 

LORD    GAMBIER    AND    REV.    J.    PRATT. 

The  following  observations  occur,  among  many  others,  in 
letters  Written  at  this  time  to  his  wife  in  America :  — 


"  London,  November  28,  1823. 
"On  our  way,"  [to  visit,  in  company  of  a  friend,  the  city 
south  of  the  Thames,]  "  we  passed  the  statue  of  Charles  I.  on 
horseback.  It  is  most  exquisitely  done,  though,  from  the 
height,  the  figure  of  the  whole  is  too  diminutive,  owing,  I  sup- 
pose, to  the  sculptor's  close  imitation  of  nature,  and  not  allow- 
ing for  perspective  distance.     '  There,'  says  Mr. ,   '  you 

see  how  the  English  serve  their  kings ;  they  cut  off  their  heads 
and  then  set  them  on  horseback.'  Poor  human  nature! — in 
its  best  estate,  how  poor  !  He  proceeded :  — '  The  artist, 
whose  work  you  see,  had  prided  himself  much,  and  set  his 
heart  intensely,  on  the  honor  which  this  statue  would  procure 
him.  When  pronouncing  his  work  finished  and  expecting  the 
meed  of  praise,  he  was  told  that  the  girth  of  the  saddle  had 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  237 

been  forgotten  in  the  marble  representation.  He  went  his  way 
and  hanged  himself.' 

"We  proceeded  on  to  Downing  street,  and  as  we  entered 
the  narrow,  silent  way,  with  modest  buildings  on  either  side, 
I  could  not  but  experience  sentiments  of  veneration  on  reflect- 
ing that  this  is  the  place  where  those  incomparable  states- 
men, Pitt  and  Fox,  once  devised  and  executed  the  plans  that 
controlled  the  politics  of  the  world !  In  their  chair  of  state 
now  sits  the  incomparable  Canning.  One  only  soldier,  neatly 
dressed,  was  walking  before  the  door. 

"We  crossed  Westminster  bridge,  one  of  the  Jive  noble 
structures  which  cross  the  Thames.  As  we  went  along,  I 
was  much  delighted  in  beholding  how  many  places  were 
erected  and  maintained  for  the  relief  and  comfort  of  the  unfor- 
tunate part  of  our  fellow-creatures:  this  for  the  deaf  and 
dumb ;  that  for  the  blind ;  the  other  for  poor  widows ;  a  fourth 
for  orphans;  a  fifth  for  poor  women  in  their  lying-in  dis- 
tresses ;  a  sixth  for  the  orphans  of  freemasons ;  a  seventh  for 
the  reclaiming  of  the  abandoned  and  wretched  women  to  the 
hopes  of  salvation; — all  these  the  legitimate  offspring  of  the 
religion  of  Jesus  Christ.  Neither  pagans  nor  heathen  ever 
saw  an  hospital. 

11  My  opponent  has  published  his  'notice'  anew  to  the  British 
public,  accompanied  with  additional  observations  against  my 
receiving  any  help  in  England.  I  believe  he  is  surprised  that 
I  do  not  take  up  the  pen  and  commence  the  war  against  him. 
But  in  this  he  will  find  himself  much  disappointed.  I  think  I 
know  my  duty  too  well  to  hazard  the  peace  of  the  Church,  in 
this  country  or  in  America,  by  entering  into  a  dispute  with 
one  of  his  station  and  privileges.  He  sits  too  near  to  what  is 
dear  to  Churchmen  to  justify  retaliation.  Though  he  is  pin- 
suing  me  much  further  than  I  expected,  yet  I  will  not  utter 
one  word  against  him.  I  shall  plead  my  cause  in  quite 
another  way;  and  if  I  fail,  I  pray  for  a  resigned  mind;  and 
it  I  be  in  some  degree  successful,  I  hope  for  no  cause  to  reflect 
on  the  unlawful  manner  of  my  proceedings. 

"The  plan  I  have  chalked  out  to  myself  I  have  commu- 
nicated by  letter  to  Mr.  W.  of  Manchester.  If  he  approve  of  it 
I  shall  adopt  it,  and  then  put  it  on  paper  for  your  inspection. 


238  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

In  the  mean  time,  I  want  to  tell  you  how  much  I  think  of 
you  and  the  dear  children;  every  night  and  morning,  yea, 
almost  continually,  you  all  at  Kingston  are  in  my  prayers. 
Tell  your  excellent  mother  not  to  disquiet  herself  through  ten- 
derness of  heart  for  me.  Come  life  or  death,  I  hope  for  God's 
mercy  and  loving  kindness ;  and  this  hope  is  enough  to  make 
adversity  and  prosperity  the  same." 

Extract  from  his  Journal. 

"  Saturday  night,  half  past  ten. 
"  Received  letters  from  America.     *     *     *     B.  B.'s  advice 
for  measures  of  peace  is  good;  it  is  the  course  I  have  pur- 
sued, and  from  which  I  shall  not  depart.     He  little  thought 
that [my  opponent]  would  proceed  to  smite  us  both  at 

one  blow. 

"This  day,  Tuesday,  the  2d  of  Dec,  I  have  been  to  wit- 
ness the  ordinary  duties  of  a  London  church.     Some  of  the 
parishes  are  so  large  (and  among  such  was  the  one  I  visited) 
that  the  clerk  and  the  curate  are  a  great  portion  of  every  day 
employed  in  the  church,  and  the  duties  immediately  therein 
performing,  such  as  baptisms,  weddings,  funerals,  and  the 
churching  of  women.     In  all  these  instances  of  duty,  the  ser- 
vices are  so  excellent  that  they  never  tire,  but  seem  new, 
appropriate  and  solemn.     When  I  drew  near  the  altar,  I  saw 
the  priest  in  a  surplice   solemnly  addressing  a  number  of 
women  standing  round  about  the  railing,  as  in  the  service  for 
the  churching  of  women.     How  pious,  how  godly  the  custom, 
thus  for  them  to  remember,  in  thanksgiving  and  praise,  the 
good  God  who  had,  in  the  hour  of  their  greatest  distress,  heard 
their  prayer,  and  let  their  cry  come  up  into  His  ear  of  mercy  ! 
Would  that  our  American  women  were  thus  pious  !     If  it  be 
said  that  this  service  is  sometimes  performed  with  levity,  this 
cannot  be  urged  against  its  propriety  and  duty,  any  more  than 
the  same  objection  may  be  made  against  prayer  itself.     In  the 
case  before  me,  everything  was  decent  and  holy ;  the  women 
knelt  and  lifted  up  their  meek  eyes  to  heaven,  and  the  clergy- 
man in  manner  was  very  devout.     After  the  service  was  over 
they  presented  to  the  minister  their  humble  offering,— as  did 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  239 

our  Holy  Mother,  —  that  which  perhaps  might  be  equivalent 
to  '  a  pair  of  turtle  doves  or  two  young  pigeons.' 

"  As  soon  as  this  was  over,  I  went  with  the  clergyman  into 
a  church-yard,  and  heard  the  burial  service  in  Loudon.  It 
was  that  of  a  poor  person ;  but  all  here  also  was  decent  and 
solemn.  Surely,  thought  I,  God  will  bless  this  people,  whose 
rulers  take  care  that  none  shall  be  put  into  the  ground  with- 
out reminding  the  living  of  the  principal  doctrines  of  their 
faith,  and  bidding  them  prepare  for  their  death.  It  is  said 
that  this  service  speaks  too  certainly  of  the  deceased  person's 
felicity  to  be  applicable  or  appropriate  to  all  burials  indiscrim- 
inately. But  this  is  a  mistake.  The  dead  are  put  into  the 
earth,  'in  the  sure  and  certain  hope  of  the  resurrection  to  eter- 
nal life.'  If  the  service  had  said  his  or  her,  (as  wilfully,  I 
fear,  mutilated  by  '  The  Covering  of  the  Velvet  Cushion,')  the 
objection  would  be  good.  But  now  it  is  as  much  as  to  say, 
We  bury  our  dead  not  as  heathen,  but  as  Christians :  we 
know  there  is  a  resurrection  to  eternal  life. 

"After  this  visit  to  the  house  of  God,  and  to  the  mansion  of 

the  dead,  I  went  to  see  the  Rev.  Mr.  C .     He  told  me  he 

had  no  doubt  the  article  in  the  British  Critic  would  be  noticed 
in  the  daily  papers,  and  accordingly  looked  in  one  lying  on 
the  table,  but  did  not  find  it.     I  understood  this  as  the  result 

of  a  threat  held  out  by  the  friends  of ,  and  expect  it  will 

be  fulfilled.  For  he  told  me  that  the  public  mind,  especially 
of  the  Bishops  and  Clergy,  was  very  much  alarmed  and  prej- 
udiced against  me  and  my  application,  if  I  should  make  any. 

Mr.  C said  that  had  there  been  no  opposition  on  the  part 

of ,  he  had  no  doubt  my  application  would  have  been 

successful  to  my  utmost  wishes ;  but  as  it  was,  he  had  no 
hopes.  The  Bishops  and  the  body  of  the  Clergy  had  been 
wrought  up  to  such  a  pitch  of  fear  that  I  was  going  to  make 
some  schism  in  the  Church  in  America,  that  nothing  would 
persuade  them  that  it  was  proper  to  give  me  any  countenance 
—  that  the  theological  school  in  New  York  was  in  danger  by 
the  least  attention  to  me. 

"I  observed  to  him  that  he  might  tell  them  from  me  that 
they  might  rely  on  it  there  was  a  great  mistake  in  this  mat- 
ter;   so  great,   that,  if  they  would  listen  to   the  established 


240  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

maxim  of  hearing  the  other  side  of  the  question  before  making 
up  a  final  judgment,  I  had  no  doubt  of  their  being  convinced 
that  their  fears  were  erroneous  and  needless.  In  the  first 
place,  I  was  no  schismatic,  as  every  one,  even  — — ,  could 
testify,  who  had  known  me  from  the  beginning;  and  that  if 
there  were  any  fears  on  this  subject,  I  had  forever  put  it  out  of 
my  power  to  be  such,  by  making  it  an  indispensable  condition, 
without  the  fulfilment  of  which,  no  money,  even  after  collect- 
ed, should  be  sent  to  America,  that  the  act  of  incorporation  of 
the  society  or  school  should  have  a  clause  that  all  its  acts  and 
proceedings  shall  forever  be  in  conformity  to  the  doctrine,  dis- 
cipline, constitution,  and  canons  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  of  the  United  States  of  America ;  and  on  proper  evi- 
dence of  a  default  thereof,  that  the  Bishops  of  the  said  Ameri- 
can Church,  or  a  majority  of  them,  shall  have  power  to  insti- 
tute an  inquiry  at  law,  and  to  see  that  the  will  and  intention 
of  the  founders  and  donors  of  the  said  society  or  school  in 
Ohio  be  fulfilled; — that  as  to  the  necessity  of  having  some 
kind  of  a  school  for  the  education  of  young  men  for  the  Chris- 
tian ministry,  I  would  demonstrate  it  by  the  testimony  of  all, 
who  had  witnessed  in  person  the  situation  of  our  country,  or 
the  needs  of  the  people,  if  they  would  listen  to  me. 

"  This  was  stated  to  Mr.  C- — .  He  observed  that  he  saw 
plainly  the  strength  and  point  of  the  observations,  and  that  to 
his  mind  they  were  convincing,  but  signified,  that  unless  I 
thought  proper  to  bring  them  to  the  public  view,  they  would 
have  little  or  no  effect.  Now  what  could  I  say  to  such  a  sug- 
gestion ?  I  told  him  I  should  not  do  this.  Unreasonably  and 
cruelly  as  I  had  been  used  in  being  thus  held  up  to  the  public 
aversion,  I  could  not,  without  further  consideration,  be  pre- 
vailed on  to  enter  the  field  of  public  controversy.  And  here 
the  matter  dropped  for  the  present.  Day  after  to-morrow,  I 
hope  to  be  with  Lord  Gambier." 

There  was  some  consolation  to  the  writer  in  the  following 
extracts  from  a  letter  of  his  Manchester  friend,  under  date  of 
the  1st  of  December :  — 

"If  Lord  Gambier  should  interest  himself  in  your  cause,  I 


bishop    chase's    reminiscences.  241 

trust  there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  establishing  the  purity  of 
your  'motives,'  and  in  this  I  will  render  you  all  the  advice  in 
my  power.  I  wish  you  would  accompany  him  to  his  coun- 
try residence,  for  I  doubt  not  it  will  accomplish  what  I  sin- 
cerely wish  for,  namely,  his  Lordship's  influence  in  favor  of 
your  plans. 

"I  notice  the  substance  of  your  conversation  with  Mr. 
C ,  and  think  it  correct,  but  beg  leave  to  suggest  the  pro- 
priety of  your  avoiding  every  communication  that  you  would 
not  be  willing  to  have  told  to  Mr.  X ." 

On  the  4th  of  December,  1823,  the  writer  met  Lord  Gam- 
bier,  according  to  appointment,  at  the  London  Tavern, 
Bishopsgate  street.  His  manner  was  dignified  and  courteous. 
After  the  business  of  the  Bible  Society,  at  which  he  presided, 
was  over,  he  took  the  writer  in  his  carriage,  and  they  rode 
together  to  his  residence  at  Iver,  near  Uxbridge.  While  on 
the  way,  his  Lordship  alluded  to  the  letter  which  had  been 
the  occasion  of  the  present  interview,  and  signified  his  pleas- 
ure in  paying  civilities  to  persons  whom  his  excellent  friend, 
Mr.  Clay,  of  America,  was  pleased  to  commend  to  his  acquaint- 
ance ;  yet  candor  required  him  to  mention  that  he  had  received 
from  another  American  gentleman  statements  quite  of  a  differ- 
ent character,  and  of  an  unfavorable  aspect,  and  which  had 
an  unpleasant  effect  on  his  mind.  An  explanation  being 
respectfully  asked,  his  Lordship  mentioned  from  whence  those 
statements  came,  and  that  they  were  both  printed  and  manu- 
script. 

Perhaps  nothing  but  conscious  innocence  in  the  exercise  of 
the  common  privilege  of  an  un enslaved  mind,  could  have  dic- 
tated an  appropriate  reply  to  such  a  communication,  made 
with  such  candor,  on  such  an  occasion,  and  from  so  digni- 
fied a  person.  The  words  of  that  reply  are  gone  —  after  they 
were  spoken  they  could  not  be  recalled;  but  memory  supplied, 
and  still  supplies,  the  expressions  of  satisfaction  in  his  Lord- 
ship's countenance,  when  it  was  earnestly  requested  by  the 
writer  that  an  opportunity  might  be  granted  to  disabuse  his 
mind,  by  explaining  the  whole  case  and  defending  the  char- 
acter of  an  injured  man,  and  his  more  injured  diocese.     "This 

21 


242  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

shall  be  freely  done,"  was  his  reply.  "Will  your  Lordship 
be  pleased  to  say  it  shall  be  uninterrupted'?"  To  this  an  im- 
mediate assent  was  given,  and  the  time  fixed  the  next  day, 
after  breakfast,  in  his  study. 

The  result  of  this  mutual  agreement  appears  in  a  letter  to 
the  writer's  friend  in  Manchester,  dated  Iver,  near  Uxbridge, 
December  8th,  1823.     From  this  is  the  following  extract:  — 

"  Nearly  the  whole  day  on  Friday  his  Lordship  spent  in 
his  library  with  me,  employed  in  the  examination  of  the 
papers  and  documents,  pro  and  coji,  relating  to  the  object  for 
which  I  have  crossed  the  Atlantic.  After  a  full  investigation, 
he  observed  that,  had  he  known  what  he  now  saw,  he  would 

not  have  returned  so  polite  a  note  to as  he  did,  in  answer 

to  his  letter  which  accompanied  his  l  notices.' 


5   JJ 


The  most  part  of  the  next  day  was  spent  by  the  writer  in 
his  chamber,  in  writing  letters  to  his  friends,  not  forgetting  his 
family  in  America.  From  these  letters  the  following  extract 
is  made,  in  relation  to  the  religious  order  in  the  arrangement 
of  his  Lordship's  familv. 

"  Perfect  harmony  and  exemplary  piety  are  manifested  in 
every  part  of  his  Lordship's  family.  All  seem  to  vie  in  doing, 
each  severally,  his  duty;  and  what  is  most  pleasing,  all 
appear  devout  in  the  time  of  family  prayers.  In  this  respect 
they  seem  to  catch  the  flame  that  burns  in  their  master's 
bosom,  wherewithal  to  enkindle  their  own  devotion,  till  around 
the  whole  family  circle,  from  the  greatest  to  the  least,  there 
seems  but  one  glow  of  heavenly-mindedness.  Surely  the  Lord 
is  in  this  place ;  and  if  such  be  the  character  of  the  English 
nobility,  it  is  no  wonder  that  he  blesseth  this  nation." 


"HEAVINESS    MAY    ENDURE    FOR    A    NIGHT,    BUT    JOY    COMETH    IN    THE 

MORNING." 

At  this  period  of  the  writer's  sojourn  in  England,  his  affairs 
suddenly  took  a  brighter  turn.  Their  progress  is  faithfully 
sketched  in  the  following  extracts  from  letters  to  his  wife, 


bishop   chase's  reminiscences.  243 

which,  for  the  sake  of  greater  perspicuity,  are  thrown  into  the 
journal  form:  — 

"SUNDAY  MORNING,  DEC.  7,   1823. 

"At  this  season  of  the  year,  perhaps  England  never  saw  a 
finer  day  than  the  present.  The  sun  shines  with  uncommon 
brilliancy ;  the  air,  though  a  hoar  frost  is  on  the  ground,  is 
soft  and  mild ;  the  view  around  his  Lordship's  dwelling  is 
cheered  by  groves  of  evergreens,  in  the  thick  branches  of 
which  the  birds,  having  taking  shelter  from  the  approaching 
winter,  still  try  to  sing  the  praises  of  their  Maker ;  and  what 
is  most  cheering  of  all,  the  bells  of  several  churches  are  send- 
ing forth  the  glad  summons  to  the  house  and  worship  of  the 
Author  of  all  mercies.  Hard  must  be  the  heart  that  is  not 
melted  with  gratitude  by  such  a  scene  as  this." 

"SUNDAY,  2  O'CLOCK,  DEC.  7. 

"  I  walked  one  mile  to  church,  at  Uxbridge,  in  company 
with  Capt.  Boyes.     His  Lordship  asked  me  to  ride  in  the  car- 
riage with  him,  but  I  preferred  the  exercise  of  walking.     The 
road  was  gravelled  all  the  way,  and  the  hawthorn  hedges  on 
each  side,  though  stripped  of  much  of  their  foliage,  rendered 
the  scenery  pleasant.     The  church  is  an  old-fashioned  build- 
ing.    What  struck  me  with  pleasing  sensations,  on  raising  my 
eyes  in  the  space  of  time  before  the  commencing  of  the  ser- 
vice, was  the  sight  of  nearly  one  hundred  charity  children,  all 
dressed  with  perfect  neatness,  and  sitting  in  the  recess,  at  the 
end  of  the  church,  at  the  right  of  the  minister.     They  were  in 
two  separate  galleries,  one  (the  girls')  above  the  other.     In 
the  lower  one  was  the  organ,  surrounded  with  the  choir,  as 
usual,  and  the  boys  above  mentioned.     On  a  shelf  in  front  of 
this  organ  gallery,  just  above  the  heads  of  those  who  occupy 
the  body  of  the  church,  was  piled  a  great  number  of  large 
loaves  of  white  wheaten  bread,  well  baked,  for  the  use  of  such 
poor  persons  as  could  come  to  church,  and  could  not  allbrd 
to  pay.     The  rector,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ward,  manifests  zeal  and 
piety,  joined  with  a  L,rood  understanding  and  correct  manners. 
Capt  B.  accompanied  me  home,  and  1  spent  the  intermission 
in  dwelling  on  the  sermon  and  solemnities  of  the  service,  and 


244  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

in  writing  to  you.     I  am  almost  sure  of  the  continuation  of 
your  prayers  for  me,  or  I  should  not  be  thus  supported." 

"SUNDAY  EVENING,  HALF  PAST  11,  DEC.  7. 

"  The  afternoon's  service  was  performed  by  the  rector,  and 
the  sermon  preached  by  his  curate.  His  Lordship's  family  all 
attended.  Dinner  at  five.  The  ladies  retired,  after  which 
the  discourse  turned  on  America.  I  should  have  told  you  that 
on  Friday  Mr.  Gambier,  a  nephew  of  his  Lordship,  came  to 
Iver ;  a  person  of  good  sense,  and  particularly  agreeable  in  his 
manners.  He  is  brother  to  the  young  ladies.  In  the  con- 
versation relating  to  America,  he  and  Capt.  Boyes  took  a  lead- 
ing part.  I  could  not  but  notice  the  great  respect  they  paid 
to  my  country.  From  general  observations,  they  proceeded 
to  things  more  particular,  till,  led  on  by  degrees,  they  ventured 
to  make  some  inquiries  concerning  Ohio  ;  the  manner  in  which 
the  Church  had  been  placed  there,  how  fostered,  and  what 
were  her  prospects.  You  may  well  suppose  how  these  topics 
were  treated,  and  how  the  conversation  ended.  They  asked, 
as  we  were  going  to  join  the  ladies  at  tea,  that  the  subject 
might  be  continued  in  their  hearing.  This  was  done,  and  pro- 
tracted till  time  of  prayers. 

"  Being  Sunday  night,  a  sermon  was  read,  and  as  it  was  of 
his  Lordship's  selection,  you  may  be  sure  it  was  good.  The 
ladies  returned  to  the  parlor,  but  the  gentlemen  lingered  with 
me  in  the  library  to  make  inquiries.  I  was  much  gratified 
with  this,  as  it  evinced  their  good  will,  which  at  this  crisis  of 
my  affairs  may  be  of  essential  service  to  me  and  the  cause  I 
have  in  hand.  It  may  be  yet,  that  God  will  open  some  door 
of  hope,  that  I  may  succeed.  Let  Him  do,  in  his  own  time, 
what  seemeth  to  him  good." 

"MONDAY  MORNING,  DEC.  8. 

"  After  breakfast  his  Lordship,  in  the  most  affectionate  and 
polite  manner,  gave  his  opinion,  advice,  and  assurances  of  his 
support  to  the  Ohio  cause ;  at  the  same  time  he  expressed  his 
fears  of  its  success  in  England.  '  Nearly  all,'  he  observed, 
'  were  prejudiced,  and  but  few  can  have  the  opportunity  of 
having  their  minds  disabused.     You  will  have  to  row  against 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  245 

wind  and  tide.  Many  will  object  to  the  principle  of  support- 
ing foreign  institutions.  I  must  confess  I  have  been  of  this 
opinion,  but  now  declare  myself  your  friend,  and  shall  wish 
you  success.  My  advice  is,  that  you  stand  on  your  own 
ground,  and  rely,  under  God,  on  your  own  statements,  sup- 
ported as  they  are  by  your  own  life  and  character.  Make 
your  publication,  but  do  it  in  as  few  words  as  possible.  Your 
introduction  to  me  from  Mr.  Clay  forms  your  introduction  to 
the  Church  Missionary  Society,  at  the  head  of  which  as  presi- 
dent stands  my  name.  To  the  secretary,  the  Rev.  Josiah 
Pratt,  I  shall  give  you  a  letter,  which  you  will  present  with 
my  compliments,  and  be  assured  you  have  my  good  wishes.' 

"  His  Lordship's  manner  for  meekness  and  piety  gave  addi- 
tional interest  and  inexpressible  sweetness  to  these  assurances, 
and  I  could  not  but  receive  them  with  a  heart  grateful  to  God 
for  having  conducted  me  to  this  good  man's  dwelling. 

"I  shall  write  in  continuation  after  I  shall  have  seen  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Pratt" 

The  exact  day  and  hour  of  the  writer's  introduction  to  the 
Rev.  Josiah  Pratt,  of  London,  are  recorded  both  on  paper  and 
in  the  memory.  That  record  ought  to  be  permanent,  for  the 
event  is  among  the  most  important  of  his  whole  life,  as  the 
sequel  of  this  memoir  will  show.  The  residence  of  this  excel- 
lent and  reverend  gentleman  and  indefatigable  and  pious 
Christian  minister,  was  at  that  time  at  22  Doughty  street,  not 
far  from  the  writer's  lodgings.  Of  his  first  visit  there  the 
writer  has  something  from  memory  to  relate,  and  then  a  few- 
words  of  matters  of  fact,  as  they  stand  recorded  in  his  jour- 
nal. 

With  what  anxious  steps  he  was  the  bearer  of  Lord  Gam- 
bicr's  letter  to  this  good  man  needs  not  be  told.  Giving  in  his 
name,  he  was  shown  directly  to  the  study  of  foe  secretary  of 
the  Church  Missionary  Society.  With  books  and  papers  all 
around  a  well-lighted  room,  warmed  by  a  cheerful  lire,  and 
furnished  with  a  good-sized  table,  having  a  well-brushed 
cloth  occupied  by  some  maps,  a  recent  number  of  the  Register 
and  some  manuscript  papers  in  octavo  form,  all  neatly  written 
on  one  side  fit  for  the  press,  the  whole  piled  away  in  two  or 

21* 


246  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

three  parcels,  and  all  the  extra  waste  papers  torn  to  small 
pieces  and  thrown  down  on  the  floor  —  there  he  was,  as  the 
writer  suddenly,  perhaps  unexpectedly,  entered  the  room. 
Turning  round  and  facing  the  door,  he  saw  a  man  approach 
of  no  ordinary  size,  and  evidently  no  inhabitant  of  London, 
and  against  whom,  as  he  has  since  remarked,  he  was  very 
much  prejudiced.  A  civil  bow  was  interchanged  and  the 
letter  from  Lord  Gambier  presented.  The  very  sight  of  a 
good  man's  handwriting  will  light  up  a  smile  in  the  face  of  a 
congenial  spirit.     The  record  of  this  event  is  as  follows :  — 

"TUESDAY,  DEC.  9,  1823.    2,  P.  M. 

"I  have  just  returned  from  Mr.  Pratt's.  He  read  the  letter 
of  Lord  Gambier,  and  received  me  very  kindly.  I  made  a 
summary  of  my  affairs  and  left  with  him  some  papers.     He 

told  me  that had  not  only  published  his  '  notices '  in 

handbills  and  sent  them  to  him,  but  had  caused  them  to  be 
inserted  in  the  '  Remembrancer,'  a  work  much  read  in  Eng- 
land. So  you  see  how  thorough  he  is  that  everything  should 
be  done  to  prejudice  the  public  mind  against  me.  He  has 
hitherto  succeeded  in  representing  the  whole  American  Church 
as  opposed  to  me,  to  my  having  a  school  in  the  west,  and  to 
my  coming  to  England. 

"The  Rev.  Mr.  Pratt  observed  when  I  came  away,  in  the 
most  obliging  manner,  that,  l  even  as  far  as  he  had  gone  in 
considering  the  case,  he  had  no  hesitation  to  assure  me  of  his 
good  wishes,  and  of  his  endeavors  to  accomplish  what  I 
wished;'  and  accordingly  wrote  to  Lord  Gambier,  requesting 
a  meeting  of  some  few  influential  characters,  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  whole  matter,  and  see  what  were  best  to  be 
done." 

The  journal  of  the  11th  December  closes  thus :  — 

"Mr.  Pratt  has  not  called.  I  go  to  bed  with  a  heavy  heart; 
never,  however,  without  praying  for  a  resigned  mind  —  for  a 
blessing  on  you  and  the  dear  children,  and  especially  on  our 
poor  Church  in  the  wilderness." 


bishop  chase's  reminiscences.  247 

'•'DECEMBER  12. 

"I  must  confess  I  rise  this  morning  in  spirits  somewhat 
dejected.  Mr.  Pratt  has  not  called  on  me  for  two  days, 
during  which  time,  from  his  implied  promise,  I  had  reason  to 
expect  him.  Perhaps,  in  correspondence  with  Lord  Gambler 
and  others,  the  subject  has  been  viewed  in  a  different  light. 
I  reflected  that  Lord  G.  had  told  me,  that,  though  he  saw  I 
was  in  the  right,  and  though  he  respected  my  motives  in 
coming  to  England,  approved  the  object,  and  would  aid  as 
well  as  wish  me  success,  yet  he  would  candidly  confess  that 
there  was  some  weight  in  the  argument,  which  many  would 
adduce  to  damp  my  prospects,  viz.,  that  England  had  enough 
of  her  own  to  attend  to,  in  spreading  and  maintaining  the 
gospel  among  such  as  depended  on  her  for  support. 

"  The  letter  which  his  Lordship  sent  by  me  to  Mr.  Pratt, 
being  read  in  my  hearing  by  that  nobleman,  contained  no 
such  sentiment  as  this,  but,  on  the  contrary,  a  hearty  good 
will  and  recommendation  of  my  cause.  Still  I  could  not  but 
remember  this  part  of  the  discourse,  and  that  remembrance 
hung  heavy  on  my  mind." 

This  record  of  the  writer's  journal  is  under  date  of  the 
11th  and  12th.  At  the  same  time  his  Lordship,  having  gone 
on  a  visit  to  a  friend's  house,  near  Guilford,  was,  it  seems, 
reflecting  on  the  same  subject,  and  addressed  to  the  writer  the 
following  letter :  — 

"  Puttenham,  near  Guilford,  Dec.  11,  1S23. 

"My  Dear  Sir:  — 

"  In  the  course  of  the  conversation  which  I  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  holding  with  you  on  the  object  of  your  visit  to  this 
country,  I  observed  to  you,  that  it  was  the  opinion  of  some 
persons  that  we  had  in  tins  land  so  many  claims  upon  the 
benevolent  and  charitable  to  support  our  numerous  religious 
and  other  institutions,  that  it  was  not  to  be  expected  that  we 
should  be  culled  upon  to  contribute  towards  the  necessities  of 
other  countries.  I  must  candidly  confess  that  /  was  ot*  tins 
opinion:  hut,  upon  further  reflection  and  consideration  of  the 
subject,  I  must  retract  that  opinion,  and  declare  that  L   think 


248  bishop   chase's  reminiscences. 

it  is  not  only  the  duty  of  every  individual  among  us,  by 
every  means  in  our  power,  to  promote  the  spreading  of  divine 
truth  and  the  blessed  gospel  of  salvation  through  the  world, 
but  also  that  every  sincere  believer  will,  upon  due  considera- 
tion of  the  subject,  be  disposed  to  contribute  towards  the 
wants  and  necessities  of  those  in  foreign  lands,  not  of  our  own 
nation,  who  are  perishing  for  the  lack  of  knowledge  and  the 
benefits  of  the  ordinances  of  God ;  for  it  must  not  be  forgotten 
that  all  Christians,  of  every  kindred  and  nation  upon  earth, 
have  one  common  Saviour,  c  one  Lord,  one  faith,  one  baptism, 
one  God  and  Father  of  us  all ! '  Ought  there  then  to  be  any 
distinction  of  nation  or  people  in  the  Church  of  Christ  ? 

"  Without  entering  into  any  further  arguments  or  considera- 
tions on  the  subject,  1  must  declare  my  full  conviction  that, 
circumstanced  as  are  the  widely  scattered  people  of  your 
extensive  diocese,  and  the  great  want  they  are  in  of  pastors 
and  teachers,  your  plan  for  the  education  and  training  of 
young  men,  natives  of  Ohio,  for  the  ministry  in  the  Episcopal 
Church,  must  be  generally  approved,  and  your  zealous,  disin- 
terested, and  pious  exertions,  in  coming  to  this  country  for 
assistance  towards  the  establishment  of  the  proposed  college, 
will,  I  hope,  prove  successful,  and  that  the  blessing  of  our 
gracious  Lord  will  be  shed  abundantly  upon  your  pious 
labors  to  promote  the  extension  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom 
through  the  world. 

"I  remain,  my  dear  sir,  with  sincere  regard  and  great 
esteem, 

"Your  faithful  and  most  humble  friend  and  servant, 

"  Gambier." 

The  coincidence  of  feeling,  depicted  in  the  above  letter  of 
good  Lord  Gambier,  with  that  of  the  writer,  was  certainly 
remarkable,  and  proved  very  encouraging.  It  manifested  his 
goodness  —  that  he  lived  near  and  drank  deep  of  that  foun- 
tain of  benevolence  which  sendeth  forth  living  waters.  For, 
recollecting  something  in  his  conversation  lately  had  with  the 
writer  while  at  his  house  which  resembled  the  former  part  of 
this  his  letter,  —  from  which  the  writer  thought,  from  his 
Lordship's  kindness,  he  had  receded  even  before  they  parted, 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  249 

he  seems  to  take  blame  to  himself  for  having  expressed  an 

erroneous  opinion,  calculated  to  wound  the  feelings,  and  out  of 
the  abundance  of  his  good  heart  took  this  marked  method  of 
making  amends  for  the  pain  he  thought  he  might  have 
inflicted.  Behold  in  him  the  true  Christian  !  It  was  then  a 
prayer,  since  realized,  that  the  benignant  Saviour,  whom  this 
nobleman  so  closely  imitated,  might  reward  him  with  ever- 
lasting blessedness.     The  writer's  journal  thus  proceeds :  — 

"DECEMBER  12,  1823. 

"I  thought  proper  to  show  Lord  Gambier's  letter  immedi- 
ately to  his  friend,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pratt.  The  reason  for  my  so 
doing  would  be  a  sufficient  apology  for  my  seeing  him  before 
he  had  returned  my  call.  Finding  him  not  at  home,  I  left 
my  card  and  returned  to  my  lodgings. 

n  ]\|r  g came  in.     His  manner  and  whole  expression 

seem  to  incline  more  and  more  in  my  favor,  notwithstanding 
the  great  pains  taken  to  keep  him  in  a  dirTerent  opinion.  He 
came  out  pretty  fully  on  the  subject,  and  observed  that  the 
course  which  I  was  pursuing,  joined  to  the  goodness  of  my 
cause,  under  the  blessing  of  God,  must  and  would  prevail.  I 
am  to  dine  with  him  to-day." 

"DECEMBER  13. 

"  The  wished-for  second  interview  between  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Pratt  and  myself  has  taken  place.  He  said  he  had  written  to 
Lord  Gambier,  but  had  received  no  answer.  I  showed  him 
his  Lordship's  letter  to  me,  dated  at  Puttenham.  He  observed 
that  it  was  necessary  to  answer  it  immediately,  and  tell  his 
Lordship  of  his  (Mr.  Pratt's)  great  anxiety  to  receive  a  reply 
to  that  which  he  had  written.  Accordingly,  when  Mr.  Pratt 
was  gone,  I  wrote  the  following  letter,  which  I  will  copy 
here;  then,  after  putting  it  in  the  post-office,  finish  the  con- 
versation between  Mr.  P.  and  myself:  — 

"  '  10  Fealherstonc  buildings,  Dec.  13,  1S23. 
"  'My  Lord:  — 

"  '  Your  Lordship's  favor  of  the  11th  inst.  reached  me  yes- 
terday.    A  great   desire  to  see   Mr.  Pratt   is  my  only  apology 

for  not  immediately  returning  my  grateful  acknowledgments 


250  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

for  your  goodness.  Mr.  P.  unhappily  was  not  within  when  I 
called  yesterday ;  but  to-day  he  has  done  me  the  honor  to  call 
at  my  lodgings.  The  interest  which  he  takes  in  the  object 
which  has  brought  me  to  this  country,  is  exceeded  only  by 
that  which  your  Lordship  has  so  kindly  manifested.  He  told 
me  he  had  written  you  a  letter,  and  was  anxiously  expecting 
an  answer.  The  sub-committee,  he  observed,  had  been 
together  last  night,  and  at  intervals  had  conversed  of  my 
affairs.  The  sentiments  were  very  favorable;  but  till  your 
Lordship's  reply  to  Mr.  Pratt  had  been  received,  nothing 
definitive  could  be  done.  The  interview  with  Mr.  P.  was 
much  longer  and  more  satisfactory  to-day,  than  that  with 
which  he  favored  me  on  my  return  from  Iver.  I  was  then 
encouraged :  I  am  doubly  so  now. 

"'I  need  not  add  how  these  favorable  circumstances  im- 
press me.  In  a  foreign  land  —  pleading,  under  peculiar  and 
unprecedented  circumstances,  the  cause  of  Christ's  suffering 
lambs  in  the  wild  woods  of  America  —  to  be  favored  by  the 
pious  and  judicious  men  in  England,  calls  forth  sentiments 
and  feelings  of  gratitude  and  praise  to  Him  who  ruleth  over 
all  things  for  the  good  of  his  Universal  Church,  hitherto  in 
my  whole  life  but  faintly  experienced. 

"  '  In  the  remembrance  of  the  many  civilities  and  happy 
moments  enjoyed  at  Iver,  I  beg  leave  to  be  most  respectfully 
named  to  Lady  Gambier,  Mrs.  G.  and  the  young  ladies. 

"  '  The  agreeable  company  and  kindness  of  Capt.  Boyes 
and  Mr.  Gambier  will  never  be  forgotten.  All  whom  I  have 
named  are  in  my  mind  when,  through  a  merciful  Redeemer, 
imploring  the  good  God  for  his  choicest  blessings. 

UiI  am,  with  sentiments  of  great  esteem  and  gratitude, 
your  Lordship's  most  faithful  friend  and  most  obedient  ser- 
vant, P.  Chase.' 

"  The  letter  to  Lord  G.  is  deposited  in  the  office,  and  I  feel 
at  leisure  to  resume  the  thread  of  my  narrative  of  what  took 
place  while  Mr.  Pratt  was  with  me. 

"  I  showed  him  the  map  of  Ohio,  and  explained  to  him  the 
situation  of  many  parishes,  —  Cincinnati,  Chillicothe,  Worth- 
ington,  Steubenville,  Boardman,  Ashtabula,  Zanesville,  Co- 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  251 

lumbus,  Berkshire,  &c.  &c.  Amidst  them  all,  I  did  not 
forget  the  parish  and  church  of  St.  James,  in  the  woods,  about 
twelve  miles  from  Steubenville.  Observing  the  interest  he 
took  in  what  was  said,  I  reverted  to  and  read  to  him  the 
account  of  my  visit  to  the  Finley  family.*  When  it  closed 
he  appeared  much  affected,  and  observed  how  highly  gratified 
the  editors  of  the  Christian  Observer  would  be  in  laying  their 
hands  on  an  article  so  highly  affecting  and  useful.  I  also  read 
to  him  a  letter  I  had  just  received  from  Mr.  W.,  of  Manches- 
ter, covering  yours  of  the  12th  November. 

"  Thus  you  see  I  jumbled  together  all  my  good  things  with- 
out order  or  arrangement.  When  a  man  is  overjoyed,  that 
which  delights  him  the  most  will  be  uppermost.  The  truth 
is,  just  before  Mr.  P.  came  in  I  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  W., 
filled  with  subjects  of  sincere  gratification,  and,  what  was 
more  than  all,  enclosing  a  letter  from  Philander,  and  another 
from  you.     I  was  happier  than  since  in  England. 

"I  was  telling  you  about  Mr.  Pratt.  After  he  had  learned 
many  things  which  he  did  not  know,  namely,  that,  from  Mr. 
W.'s  letter,  all  our  acquaintances  at  Manchester  were  in  my 
favor ;  and  after  reading  in  the  letter  not  only  Mr.  W.'s  honest 
arguments  against  my  opponent's  proceedings,  but  his  willing- 
ness, nay  desire,  that  his  name  should  stand  on  my  list  of 
subscribers  for  fifty  pounds;  and  after  hearing  me  read  from 
Philander's  letter  that  Bishop  Bowen  had  told  him  (Philan- 
der) that,  after  having  printed  the  letter  to  Bishop  White,  he 
did  not  see  any  course  which  I  could  pursue  other  than  that  I 
had  pursued,  and  that  the  question  lay  between  such  an  appli- 
cation as  that  I  was  making,  or  no  Church  at  all  in  Ohio  ;  — 
Mr.  Pratt  was  unqualifiedly  and  decidedly  in  favor  of  doing 
something,  as  far  as  could  be  done  consistently  with  the  peace 
of  the  Church,  for  our  people  in  Ohio. 

"  He  said :  ' has  laid  himself  liable  to  the  most  severe 

retaliation.  His  method  and  means,  as  well  as  the  whole 
spirit  of  his  opposition,  have  been  some  of  them  not  founded 
in  truth  and  fair  representation,  and  all  of  them  overbearing; 
he  could  therefore  be  righteously  handled  With  great  severity. 

♦See  page  153  of  thiH  work. 


252  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

But  your  plan  is  the  best; — not  to  retort  nor  to  recriminate, 
but  suffer  and  forbear,  for  the  sake  of  the  peace  of  the  Church 
in  America.  Your  interest  would  lie  in  coming  forward  to 
the  British  public,  by  an  appeal  to  their  sense  of  justice. 
Many  would  open  their  hearts  and  their  hands  to  assist  you ; 
and  your  utmost  desire  would  be  gratified  in  the  collection  of 
funds  for  an  institution  in  Ohio.  But  this  would  make  a 
division,  and  create  bad  blood  in  America.  You  shrink  from 
all  considerations  of  this  sort ;  and  in  these  sentiments  you 
deserve  my  applause.  Better  will  it  be  to  return  back  to  your 
own  country,  possessed  of  little,  with  peace  and  a  good  con- 
science, than  with  much,  and  contention  therewith.'  These 
were  the  expressed  sentiments  of  this  good  man,  and  nearly 
their  manner  and  words. 

"  Thus  you  see  the  state  of  my  affairs.  They  certainly 
begin  to  brighten.  Much  depends  on  the  zeal  and  interest 
which  Lord  Gambier  shall  manifest.  Of  this  part  of  the  sub- 
ject you  can  better  judge,  sitting  and  looking  coolly  on  at  a 
distance,  than  myself,  who  am  so  near  the  picture.  I  leave 
all  to  God ;  and  as  I  thank  Him  with  all  my  soul  for  the  past, 
even  so  I  pray  for  his  blessing  on  that  which  is  to  come.  His 
will  be  done,  and  his  the  praise  and  glory  ! " 


CHAPTER    XXIY. 

JOURNAL  CONTINUED THOUGHTS  ON  A  SERMON THE  WRITER' S  RE- 
FLECTIONS   ON    HIS    BIRTH-DAY INTERESTING-    INTERVIEWS    WITH 

REV.    MR.    PRATT. 

'SUNDAY  NIGHT,  DEC.  14,  1823. 

"  As  this  is  my  birth-day,  (set.  48,)  I  am  happy  to  tell  you 
I  have  spent  it  in  worshipping  (I  hope  sincerely)  the  Author 
of  my  being,  the  Preserver  of  my  life,  and  the  Redeemer  of 
my  soul; — the  place,  St.  John's  chapel,  Bedford  row.  The 
preacher  in  the  morning  I  did  not  know,  but  liked  him  well. 

In  the  afternoon  the  curate,  the  Rev.  Mr.  D ,  preached; 

his  text,  — '  Having  your  loins  girt  about  with  truth,  and 


eishop   chase's   reminiscences.  253 

having  on  the  breast-plate  of  righteousness,  and  your  feet  shod 
with  the  preparation  of  the  gospel  of  peace,'  &c.  Truth  he 
considered,  in  the  particular  sense,  as  denoting  sincerity  of 
heart ;  and  of  this  he  observed  there  were  two  kinds,  —  moral 
and  religious  sincerity.  'The  former,'  said  he,  'is  a  wild 
flower,  growing  often  in  abundance  in  the  field  of  unsubdued 
nature ;  the  latter  grows  only  in  the  garden  of  Jesus  Christ. 
The  men  of  this  world,  without  faith,  can  produce  the  former ; 
but  the  latter  can  spring  only  from  faith  in  the  divine  Sacri- 
fice. How  many  men  are  there,  who  are  true  and  sincere  in 
all  their  dealings  with  men,  and  yet  have  no  idea  of  paying 
to  God  their  manifold  obligations !  How  many  who  shrink 
with  horror  from  the  thought  of  robbing  their  neighbor,  yet 
who  have  no  compunction  when  robbing  God  of  the  service 
which  is  his  due  — their  time,  their  talents,  and  their  prayers.' 
Indeed,  so  good  was  the  sermon  that  7"  can  remember  the 
whole,  and  you  know  mine  is  none  of  the  best  of  memories  in 
this  way. 

"  What  is  here  said  will  apply  to  few  preachers.  Give  me 
a  man  who  imitates  his  Saviour  in  gravity,  in  earnestness,  in 
importance  and  pointedness  of  matter  and  argument,  and  last, 
though  not  least,  in  sweetness  and  engagingness  of  manner ; 
this  is  my  preacher.  Such,  we  have  reason  to  believe,  was 
the  Saviour  when  addressing  the  multitude  on  the  mount.  I 
want  no  action  more  than  '  good  manners,'  i.  e.,  the  absence  of 
all  disgusting  habits.  This  rule  by  no  means  excludes  the 
action  which  grows  directly  from  the  subject,  and  to  hide 
which  were  an  effort;  and  yet  by  this  exception  I  do  not 
mean  we  should  imitate  grave-diggers,  nor  carpenters,  nor 
sailors,  because  we  may  have  occasion  to  speak  of  their  sev- 
eral occupations;  nor  would  I,  when  uttering  the  words  of  a 
king,  make  gestures  which  seem  to  wield  a  sceptre,  by  stretch- 
ing out  the  right  arm  and  putting  the  left  akimbo  on  the  hip. 
I  think  these  Mr.  Gregory  calls  '  teapot  clergymen.'  The  sum 
is  this:  that  clergyman  is  best  accepted  who  s.vms  so  happy 
as  to  iorjret  all  arts  and  even  thoughts  of  pleasing  anyone  but 
God;  and  who,  from  the  consciousness  of  this  truth,  felt,  not 
defined,  in  his  own  breast,  has  evidently  the  Spirit  of  God  to 
give  etlieacy  to  what  he  says. 

22 


254  BISHOP   chase's    reminiscences. 

"  But  when  speaking  on  this  subject  I  would  say  with  Addi- 
son, '  I  would  rather  teach  twenty  what  were  good  to  be  done, 
than  be  one  of  the  twenty  to  follow  my  own  teaching.'  All 
preachers  fall  short  of  what  they  know  is  requisite  to  their 
duty,  and  have  reason  to  pray  that  God  will  help  them. 

"  But  to  the  subject  of  my  birth-day.  Twenty-two  years 
more  will  with  me  finish  the  time  allotted  unto  man.  How 
short  the  same  number  of  years  appears  on  the  retrospect ! 
yea,  in  looking  forward,  how  short  compared  with  the  endless 
duration  of  that  something  which  we  call  eternity !  Aside 
from  that  which  happens  to  a  vast  majority  in  passing  from 
forty-eight  to  seventy  years,  ought  not  the  recollection  of  my 
shattered  constitution,  by  reason  of  my  having  lived  in  such 
variety  of  climates,  and  suffered  so  many  fits  of  sickness  and 
so  much  bodily  hardship,  to  suggest  to  me  the  almost  certainty 
of  an  earlier  departure? 

"But  what  use,  you  will  say,  is  this  calculation  about 
human  life,  provided  one  be  prepared  at  all  times  7  Answer : 
I  know  not  any  use  in  it,  save  the  wish  thereby  to  ensure  that 
preparation.  Such  is  the  weakness  of  the  moral  constitution 
that  this  kind  of  mathematical  reckoning  seems  necessary,  at 
least  it  proves  of  great  assistance,  to  that  end.  With  this  view 
I  love  to  indulge  in  it,  especially  at  a  period  of  time  like  the 
present.  It  leads  me  to  a  right  use  of  that  excellent  prayer  in 
the  American  (I  wish  they  had  it  in  the  English)  visitation 
of  the  sick,  which  I  will  here  transcribe  :  — 

"  l  O  God,  whose  days  are  without  end  and  whose  mercies 
cannot  be  numbered,  make  us,  we  beseech  thee,  deeply  sensi- 
ble of  the  shortness  and  uncertainty  of  human  life,  and  let  thy 
Holy  Spirit  lead  us  through  this  vale  of  misery,  in  holiness 
and  righteousness,  all  the  days  of  our  lives ;  that  when  we 
shall  have  served  thee  in  our  generation,  we  may  be  gathered 
unto  our  fathers,  having  the  testimony  of  a  good  conscience ; 
in  the  communion  of  the  Catholic*  Church  ;  in  the  confidence 
of  a  certain  faith ;  in  the  comfort  of  a  reasonable,  religious 
and  holy  hope ;  in  favor  with  thee,  our  God,  and  in  perfect 

*Or  "Universal  Church"  —  "  Holy  Apostolic  Church."  See  Office  of  Institu- 
tion, or  "  the  Mystical  Body,  *  *  *  which  is  the  blessed  company  of  all  faithful 
people."    See  Communion  Service. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  255 

charity  with  the  world.     All  which  we  ask  through  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord.     Amen.'  " 

"MONDAY,  4  P.  M.,  DEC.  15. 

"  The  Rev.  Mr.  Pratt  has  just  left  my  lodgings.  He  inquired 
if  I  had  received  any  further  communications  from  Lord  Gam- 
bier.  On  being  told  no,  he  seemed  to  manifest  some  anxiety; 
but  considering  that  perhaps  he  had  not  returned  from  Putten- 
ham,  and  reverting  to  his  Lordship's  last  letter  to  me,  dated 
thence,  he  was  satisfied. 

" '  I  have  been  thinking  over  your  affairs,'  said  he.  '  You 
are  so  peculiarly  situated,  and  revolt  so  much  at  the  thoughts 
of  entering  into  a  personal  war,  and  thereby  endangering  the 
peace  of  your  Church  in  America,  that  I  plainly  see  you  need 
some  one  to  be  your  friend  and  mediator.  Your  opponent  has 
thrown  down  the  gauntlet,  without  righteousness  on  his  side 
to  sustain  him  in  the  contest  to  which  he  challenges  you. 
Now  is  that  awful  pause,  as  between  two  competitors,  in 
which  the  world,  and  especially  all  Christians,  are  breathless, 
and  waiting  the  onset,  the  clash  of  arms,  and  the  agonizing 
struggle  for  victory. 

"  '  Before  moving  an  inch  towards  battle,  you  undismayed 
look  round,  and  without  even  naming  your  enemy,  much  less 
returning  blow  for  blow,  address  us  English  Hotspurs  in  lan- 
guage of  peace.  To  us  you  represent  your  life  of  labor  and 
love  in  the  cause  of  our  common  Master.  You  appeal  to  your 
zealous  struggles,  not  of  blood  and  war,  but  of  patience  and 
meekness.  You  exhibit  to  us  the  chart  of  your  western  dio- 
cese ;  on  this  you  trace  your  footsteps  among  the  woods  in 
search  of  the  wandering  lambs  of  Christ's  fold.  You  point  to 
the  streams  which  you  have  forded ;  the  trees  under  which 
you  have  reposed  your  weary  limbs  by  day,  and  the  impervi- 
ous forests  in  which,  when  wandering,  you  have,  been  obliged 
to  spend  the  gloomy  night.  All  this  that  the  gospel  of  peace 
might  be  preached,  and  the  Church  of  a  suffering  Lord  might 
be  kept  from  extinction.  Your  work,  your  whole  history,  as 
well  as  your  pastoral  relation  to  the  perishing  sheep  in  the 
wilderness,  justify  you  in  the  holy  determination  you  have 
taken,  not  to  take  up  this  gauntlet  of  strife  in  this  country. 


256  BISHOP     CHASE    S     REMINISCENCES. 

Blessed  is  your  opportunity  of  manifesting,  by  your  conduct, 
the  efficacy  of  those  heavenly  precepts  which  you  have  been 
all  your  lifetime  preaching,  which  makes  you  regard  more 
the  peace  of  the  Church  in  your  own  country,  than  even  a 
just  vindication  of  yourself  in  this.' 

"  This  is  the  purport  of  what  Mr.  Pratt  said.  The  follow- 
ing is  nearly  in  his  own  words. 

"  Speaking  of  the  publication,  which  in  case  the  investi- 
gating committee  should  approve,  he  said:  'This  pamphlet 
will  be  signed  by  a  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England, 

otherwise  anonymous.     All  personal  allusions  to  ,  even 

the  mention  of  his  name,  or  of  his  being  now  in  England,  will 
be  avoided.  His  arguments  against  you,  his  misstatements, 
his  insinuations,  and  assumption  of  authority  over  you,  will 
be  obviated  by  a  recital  of  facts,  as  if  those  facts  were  adduced 
by  a  contemplation  of  the  subject  abstractedly  from  him.'  " 

''DECEMBER  18. 

"Yesterday  I  wrote  nothing  in  my  journal,  on  account  of 
the  press  of  other  things  on  my  hands.  In  the  morning  of 
yesterday  I  received  the  following  note  from  Lord  Gambier,  in 
answer  to  mine  of  the  13th :  — 

"  '  Piittenham,  Dec.  15,  1823. 
'"My  Dear  Sir:  — 

"  'Your  letter  of  the  13th  instant  has  been  delayed  on  its 
way  to  my  hand  by  my  continuance  at  this  place. 

"  'My  letter  to  you  by  the  11th  I  wrote  with  a  view  to 
your  making  use  of  it  in  any  way  that  you  might  think  fit, 
in  whole  or  in  part,  to  counteract,  in  any  statement  you  may 
make  of  your  objects  and  views,  the  effects  of  the  opinions, 

not  only  of ,  but  of  other  persons  in  this  country,  that 

were  unfavorable  to  your  good  cause.  In  full  consideration 
of  the  subject-  I  am  of  opinion  that  a  statement  of  the  circum- 
stances of  the  people  of  your  diocese  and  their  spiritual  wants, 
with  your  views  and  wishes,  and  the  plan  of  the  college, 
should  be  drawn  up  as  correctly  as  may  be  practicable,  and 
circulated  among  the  friends  of  religion ;  and  I  have  no  doubt 
but  there  are  very  many  in  this  favored  land  who  will  readily 
from  their  abundance,  after  satisfying  other  demands  upon 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  257 

their  charity,  contribute  towards  the  support  of  so  good  a 
cause  as  that  which  you  so  earnestly  advocate. 
"  1 1  remain,  my  dear  sir,  with  sincere  regard, 

"  'Your  faithful  servant,  Gambier.' 

"I  went  to  see  Mr.  Pratt,  and  showed  him  the  above  letter 
from  Lord  G.  He  said  he  was  expecting  a  letter  from  his 
Lordship  in  answer  to  the  one  he  wrote  him  about  the  propri- 
ety of  a  meeting  of  a  few  friends,  to  take  into  consideration  the 
whole  matter,  and  determine  what  is  best  to  be  done." 

"FRIDAY,  DEC.  19. 

"  I  called  yesterday,  about  four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  again  on  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Pratt.  He  had  just  received  an  answer  from  Lord 
Gambier.  It  spoke  in  high  terms  of  my  plan  of  a  western 
seminary,  and  of  his  confidence  that,  if  a  proper  representation 
were  made  to  the  religious  community  in  England,  he  had  no 
doubt  of  some  considerable  success,  but  observed  that  he  could 
not  at  present  come  to  town. 

"Mr.  P.  remarked  that  the  presence  of  his  Lordship  would 
be  a  very  desirable  thing  to  give  life  to  a  meeting  in  consider- 
ing of  my  affairs ;  but  as  he  felt  hearty  in  his  desires  to  aid 
me,  he  would  try  to  assemble  one  himself.     He  again  repeated 

his  deep  regret  that had  so  prejudiced  the  public  mind 

against  me  as  to  almost  preclude  me  from  any  assistance 
without  an  open  war,  by  which,  being  in  self-defence,  he  knew 
the  confidence  of  the  English  nation  would  be  again  restored, 
and  I  could  get  what  I  deserved  and  wished. 

"  But  to  this  measure,  I  reiterated  what  1  had  observed 
before,  that  my  heart  increased  in  aversion.  The  peace  of  our 
Church  in  America  will  by  this  measure  be  hazarded,  and  I 
shall  be,  as  all  persons  are  who  avenge  themselves,  regarded 
as  a  party  in  the  quarrel.     Now  it  is  otherwise, 

"After  some  such  observations  as  these,  Mr.  Pratt  observe.] 
to  this  effect :  taking  some  pamphlets  which  lay  scattered  on 

his  table,  and  arranging  the icery  together  and  placing  them 

on  his  mantel-piece,  he  said,  'Lie  there  controversy,  till  you, 
Bishop  0.,   shall    have   i^onc   from    this   country,      You  must 

gather  whal  gleanings  you  can  in  peace  and  quietness.  Though 

you  have;  heen  driven  from  the  full  harvest  of  British  bounty 

22* 


258  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

by  your  own  countryman,  the  few  heads  you  may  collect  will 
be  more  precious  to  you,  and  more  delicious  in  the  enjoyment, 
than  the  full  sheaves  of  those  who  reap  in  noise  and  conten- 
tion.' " 

"SATURDAY,  DEC.  20. 

u  The  post  brought  me  a  letter  from  my  good  friend,  Mr. 
W.,  of  Manchester,  dated  Dec.  18,  from  which  are  the  follow- 
ing extracts :  — 

"  '  My  Dear  Friend  :  — 

" '  I  write  to  you  with  as  much  freedom  as  I  would  to  a 
brother.  I  wish  well  to  your  cause,  and  have  pleasure  in  say- 
ing that  your  favor  of  the  15th,  received  this  morning,  has 
given  more  satisfaction  than  any  one  I  have  received  from  you 
since  you  have  arrived  in  town,  and  it  did  so  because  Lord 
Gambier's  kindness  to  you  and  your  cause  appears  to  me  like 
the  dawn  of  a  brighter  day.  He  is  known  here  and  through- 
out the  kingdom  as  an  excellent  man,  and  has  many  admirers 
for  his  great  exertions  for  promoting  the  two  valuable  religious 
societies  of  which  he  is  president.  His  name  and  influence 
will  give  great  weight  to  your  cause. 

"  l  I  also  feel  most  pleased  to  find  you  have  fallen  into  such 
good  hands  as  Mr.  Pratt's,  and  think  his  plan  of  publication, 
as  far  as  you   have   sketched  it,  such  an  one  as  I  should 

wish  to  see.     I  think  it  much  better  to  take  no  notice  of 

than  to  undertake  a  paper  war,  however  just  it  might  be,  for 
reasons  stated  in  your  last  letter.  He  has  done  all  the  injury 
he  can  do  if  left  unnoticed,  and  it  is  probable  that  contention 
might  very  much  increase  the  evil.' 

"On  Saturday  night,  the  20th,  I  went  to  Mr.  Pratt's.     He 

said  he  had  been  writing  a  letter  to .     '  The  design  of  it,' 

he  observed,  '  is  to  inform  him  of  the  change  which  has  taken 
place  in  my  sentiments  in  regard  to  your  cause,  which  his 
partial  statements,  before  I  knew  you  had  arrived  in  England, 
had  influenced  me  to  condemn  and  oppose.  Having  drawn 
from  me  this  opinion  by  his  representations,  he  thinks  me,  and 
has  reason  to  report  me,  as  opposed  to  your  views.  I  feel  it 
therefore  due  to  him  and  myself  to  write  to  him  of  the  effects 
which  a  full  view  of  the  subject  has  produced  in  my  mind  ; 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  259 

also  to  inform  him  of  the  extreme  regret  which  all  sober, 
reflecting  people  feel  at  his  having  commenced  an  attack  on 
you  before  the  British  public.' 

"  This  was  the  purport  of  his  observations,  which  I  noticed 
he  had  expressed  in  the  handsomest  terms,  by  his  reading  a 
considerable  part  of  the  letter  itself.  He  mentioned  my  name 
in  it  as  determined  to  keep  the  peace,  though  he  should  smite 
me  ever  so  much." 

"SUNDAY,  DEC.  21. 

11  You  will  expect  I  shall  say  something  of  the  blessed  duties 
of  this  blessed  day.  You,  who  love  our  divine  service  as  an 
instrument  of  such  exquisite  piety  and  devotion  to  God,  need 
not  that  1  tell  you  how  I  enjoyed  myself  when  worshipping 
amidst  a  congregation  of  more  than  two  thousand  people,  all 
engaged  in  its  use  without  a  look  or  a  movement  out  of  its 
place ;  a  solemn  murmur,  almost  like  the  troubled  state  of  the 
earth  when  convulsed  with  hidden  fires,  broke  forth  at  the 
confession  of  sin,  and  when  the  praises  of  God  were  set  forth, 
in  the  repetition  or  chanting  of  the  Psalter,  the  junction  of  all 
voices  seemed  like  the  somid  of  many  waters.  When  God's 
word  was  read  in  the  lessons  for  the  first  Sunday  in  Advent, 
nearly  all,  especially  those  who  were  young,  having  found  the 
same  in  their  Bibles,  followed  the  minister  with  their  eyes,  as 
if  in  deep  attention  to  what  the  Lord  was  speaking  through 
the  mouth  of  his  authorized  herald.  All  was  silence,  order 
and  beauty ;  I  hope  also  all  was  the  beauty  of  inward  holi- 
ness. Surely,  thought  I,  the  Lord  is  in  this  place,  and  this  is 
none  other  than  the  gate  of  heaven.  This  is  the  church  in 
which  Mr.  Cecil  preached.  The  present  rector  is  the  Rev. 
Daniel  Wilson ;  he  is  in  ill  health.  I  attends  I  1 1  ie  same  church 
in  the  afternoon;  Mr.  Dillon  preached.'' 

"MONDAY,  10  P.  M.,  DEC.  M 

"I  have  no  enjoyments  in  London  other  than  those  I  could 
have  in  a  desert,  except  such  as  God  gives  me  in  going  to 
Church,  whriv  BO  one  knows  me  hut  1  le.      1  HOW  and  thru  see 

Mr.  Piatt,  and  sometimes  Mr.  S •.    All  this,  howem,  1  have 

tie  fame*  belief,  is  fee  the  best,e*en  for  the  fitting  of  the  soul 
for  the  km-dom  of  h.-av.-ii.    This  solitude,  improved  as  1  hope 


260  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

it  is  by  reading  and  meditation  on  the  sins  of  my  past  life,  is 
the  very  thing  for  me,  whether  God  designs  to  take  me  soon 
out  of  this  world,  or  to  make  me  the  instrument  of  good  to 
others  before  I  die." 

"  TUESDAY,  DEC.  23. 

"  It  has  rained  all  day,  and  the  streets  are  very  muddy.  I 
went,  however,  to  the  American  Coffee-house  to  deposit  some 
letters,  via  Liverpool,  for  American  ships. 

"  I  am  quite  lonely,  scarcely  seeing  any  one  but  Mr.  Pratt. 
He  called  on  me  to-day,  and  manifests  the  same  kind  zeal  in 
my  behalf  as  ever.  He  told  me  he  had  a  desire  to  get  some- 
thing inserted  in  the  periodical  papers  ;  but  such  is  the  preju- 
dice against  me,  and  the  fear  of  awakening  the  wrath  of  mine 
opposers,  that  I  fear  nothing  of  this  sort  can  be  done  as  yet. 
What  a  peculiar  situation  I  am  in !  The  duty  I  owe  to  the 
peace  of  our  Church  at  home  compels  me  to  silence,  though 
that  silence  seems  to  be  my  ruin. 

"  My  cause  is  known  in  its  merits  but  to  few ;  those  few  all 
approve  of  my  measures  and  desire  to  help  me,  but  find  insur- 
mountable difficulties  at  every  step.  Will  not  a  kind  Provi- 
dence help  me,  by  opening  some  door  of  mercy  and  peace  ?  I 
pray  he  may.  I  have  tried  to  submit  to  my  lot  of  separation 
from  you  and  our  lovely  children  as  well  as  I  can,  but  I  fear 
I  do  it  in  a  very  imperfect  manner.  What  would  I  give  to  see 
you  and  all  in  these  lonely  moments  !" 

"  DEC.  24.    6  O'CLOCK,  P.  M. 

"  The  Rev.  Mr.  Pratt  sent  me  a  note  this  day,  inviting  me 
to  take  my  Christmas  dinner  with  him  and  his  family  to-mor- 
row. And  who  do  you  think  brought  this  note  to  me  ?  His 
own  daughter,  seemingly  about  eighteen  years  of  age ;  a  mod- 
est, sensible  and  pious  young  lady ;  meekly  entering  my  little 
parlor,  with  her  over  garments  quite  wet  with  rain,  which, 
notwithstanding  her  umbrella  and  pattens,  had  sadly  bespat- 
tered them. 

"  She  presented  me  with  the  note,  and  with  it  said  that  her 
father  begged  I  would  not  trouble  myself  in  preparing  a  writ- 
ten, but  that  she  would  carry  a  verbal,  answer  to  him.  I 
assure  you  I  was  struck  with  uncommon  admiration  of  the  sim- 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  261 

plicity  and  godly  sincerity  visible  in  the  very  manner  of  this 
otherwise  unimportant  transaction.  Christianity  brings  us  all 
back  to  pastoral  life  again." 

«  CHRISTMAS  NIGHT,  1823. 

"  Blessed  be  God !  I  have  joined  this  day  in  the  celebration 
of  the  nativity  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ.  You 
know  how  appropriate,  as  if  by  Divine  direction,  is  our  whole 
public  Church  service  to  this  end ;  and  you  may  easily  sup- 
pose with  what  unspeakable  comfort  I  joined  in  the  same, 
when  suffering  under  my  present  difficulties. 

"If  my  Saviour,  the  Eternal  Son  of  God,  humbled  himself 
to  our  low  estate,  and,  as  at  this  time,  was  born  in  a  stable  and 
cradled  in  a  manger,  to  fulfil  the  will  of  the  Jehovah  to  save  a 
fallen  world,  surely  I  ought  not  to  repine  if,  in  the  fulfilment 
of  God's  will,  I  am  despised  for  the  want  of  temporal  prosper- 
ity and  grandeur.  God  did  not  reject  his  Son  for  submission 
to  the  low  estate. of  Joseph's  family,  but  sustained  him  to  bear 
the  contumely  of  the  proud,  and  the  taunts  of  a  wicked 
world ;  yea,  in  his  lowest  humility  he  sent  his  angels  to  be  his 
ministers,  and  in  due  time  glorified  him. 

"  Splendor,  and  power,  and  riches,  are  not  evidences  of  the 
Divine  favor.  Let  these  truths  support  me  in  my  present  low 
estate.  Jesus,  though  he  had  not  where  to  lay  his  head,  by 
waiting  his  Father's  time  and  pleasure,  was  raised  to  glory, 
and  power,  and  might,  and  majesty,  and  dominion.  Even  so, 
if  we  submit  to  God's  will  in  all  the  afflictive  and  humiliating 
dispensations  of  his  providence,  in  his  own  good  time  will  he 
raise  us  to  the  enjoyment  of  his  kingdom ;  with  this  difference 
—  Jesus  did  all  in  his  own  power  and  inherent  righteousness; 
we  attain  through  his  grace  and  imputed  righteousness. 

"The  Rev.  Mr.  D preached.    It  was  the  best  I  'hristmas 

sermon  I  have  heard  for  many  years.  In  company  of  about 
three  hundred  communicants,  I  received  the  blessed  sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  supper,  for  the  first  time  in  England  -May  the 
pardon  «»t' sin,  which  God  assures  to  the  faithful  and  penitent 
'  in  this  sacrament,'  be  my  portion,  now  and  ever.     Anion. 

"I  sat  a  while  in  church  in  the  Rev.  Mr.  runts  pew,  and 
when  all   was  over,  went  with  his  family   to  his  house  in 


262  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

Doughty  street.  He  has  four  daughters  and  two  sons ;  one, 
being  in  college,  was  absent ;  all  the  rest,  with  Mrs.  Pratt  and 
her  mother,  Mrs.  Joivet,  —  mother  also  of  the  missionary  of 
whom  we  hear  so  much  in  Malta  and  elsewhere,  —  were 
present,  and  a  most  blessed  Christmas  dinner  it  was.  Many 
inquiries  were  made  about  Ohio,  the  place  of  my  residence  at 
Worthington,  of  the  farm,  and  the  condition  of  the  buildings, 
orcharding  and  conveniences. 

"  I  received  to-day  another  letter  from  my  good  friend  in 
Manchester,  Mr.  W.,  from  which  are  the  following  extracts :  — 

"  'Manchester,  Dec.  22,  1823. 
"  '  My  Dear  Friend  :  — 

"  'If  the  peace  of  the  Church,  in  this  country  or  America, 
should  be  disturbed,  it  will  be  owing  to  no  fault  of  yours,  and 
I  think  every  candid  person  who  may  become  acquainted  with 
the  facts  will  see  in  your  conduct  an  uniform  desire  to  avoid 
schism  and  extend  the  influence  of  the  Church. 

"  '  You  ought  to  be  in  town  when  Parliament  assemble,  but 
till  then  I  think  you  may  pass  your  time  more  pleasantly  and 
quite  as  usefully  in  the  country,  and  therefore  hope  we  shall 
soon  see  you.' " 

"DECEMBER  26. 

"All  this  day  till  two,  P.  M.,  I  spent  in  writing,  when  I 
called  on  Mr.  Pratt,  but  found  him  not  at  home.  I  then  came 
to  my  lodgings.  I  had  not  been  long  in  my  little  parlor,  when 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Wilks  entered.  He  was  unknown  to  me,  and  I 
to  him,  except  by  character.  Our  names  being  mutually  inter- 
changed, an  intimacy  soon  took  place.     He  told  me  that  he 

became  acquainted  with soon  after  his  arrival  in  London ; 

that  he  was  much  pleased  with  him.  He  observed  that  there 
was  great  care  taken  on  the  part  of  that  gentleman  that  the 
intimacy  which  was  forming  between  them  should  have  a 
corresponding  aversion  to  me  and  my  object  in  coming  to  Eng- 
land. He  said  that  the  said  gentleman  left  an  impression  on 
his  mind  that,  if  not  a  schismatic,  I  was  a  disturber  of  the 
public  peace  and  harmony  of  the  Church ;  that  my  object  was 
selfish,  and  opposed  to  the  great  body  of  the  Church  in  Amer- 
ica;   that  the   institution  of  a   seminary  in  Ohio  would  be 


bishop   chase's  reminiscences.  263 

against  the  public  law  of  the  Convention,  and  be  that  which 
they  would  condemn ;  and  that  the  General  Theological  Sem- 
inary had  the  exclusive  right  to  say  '  when  and  where  all 
branch  schools  should  be  fixed,'  and  that,  not  having  obtained 
their  consent,  I  was  opposed  in  my  own  country,  and  ought 
to  be  opposed  in  this. 

"  These  were  the  impressions  made  on  his  mind  by  the 
conversation  of  my  opponent,  and  to  his  knowledge  the  same 
were  the  impressions  made  on  the  minds  of  the  Bishops  here 
in  England,  particularly  on  that  of  the  Bishop  of  St.  David's, 
now  in  London,  as  I  think  he  (Mr.  Wilks)  said  he  had  from 
that  Bishop's  own  mouth.  'But,'  said  Mr.  W.,  'after  reflec- 
tion, and  the  putting  together  a  few  facts,  and  the  holding  of 
a  little  conversation  with  others,  the  tide  of  opinion  begins  to 
turn,  not  only  in  my  own  mind,  but  in  that  of  others.  The 
prima  facie  of  this  gentleman's  cause  was  very  plausible,  but 
it  is  not  borne  out  by  facts.' 

"  These  were,  as  nearly  as  I  can  recollect,  the  words  of  Mr. 
Wilks.  Before  he  left  me,  we  went  into  a  full  and  free  talk 
about  my  affairs,  at  the  close  of  which  he  told  me  that  he  had 
been  invited  to  attend  a  meeting  of  some  judicious  and  benevo- 
lent persons  of  the  London  clergy,  at  Mr.  Pratt's,  on  Tuesday 
next,  and  that  they  expected  me  to  be  present,  as  it  was  on 
my  account  they  would  meet.  I  told  him  I  should  certainly 
attend.  Kindly  inviting  me  to  come  to  see  him,  near  Regent's 
Park,  he  took  his  leave." 

"DEC  27,  SATURDAY  NIGHT,  HALF  PAST  II. 

"  Mr.  Pratt  called  on  me  about  eleven  o'clock  this  morning, 
and  renewed  his  invitation  to  meet  a  few  friends  at  his  house, 
to  dine  and  converse  together  on  my  affairs,  on  Tuesday  next, 
two  o'clock ;  and  it  is  in  preparing  for  this  meeting,  by  a  state- 
ment of  the  cause  which  brought  me  to  England,  that  has 
occasioned  me  great  fatigue.  Though  I  feel  myself  quite  inad- 
equate to  the  task  of  doing  justice  to  my  cause,  yet  I  bless  God 
for  his  assistance,  and  pray  it  may  never  desert  me.  He  hath 
in  some  cases,  almost  to  a  miracle,  '  pointed  out  the  way,  and 
given  me  grace  to  follow.'  I  could  tell  you  some  instances 
wherein  He  hath  so  evidently  done  this,  that  I  seemed,  as 


264  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

with  my  bodily  eyes,  to  behold  the  finger  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence. May  His  mercy  and  goodness  never  cease  to  receive 
my  gratitude." 

"SUNDAY,  1  O'CLOCK,  P.  M.,  DEC.  29. 

"  I  have  just  returned  from  Church.  You  know  the  excel- 
lency of  our  public  service  prevents  the  possibility  of  disap- 
pointment in  any  pious  mind  in  attendance  thereon.  However 
indifferent  the  preacher,  as  it  respects  talents  and  manner,  if 
he  be  solemn  and  devout  in  the  service,  the  hearer  is  sure  (if 
he  be  not  a  hypocrite  or  impious  himself)  of  having  the  main 
end  of  his  attendance  on  Church  answered.  This,  in  our  im- 
perfect state,  where  so  many  things  are  wrong,— and  if  left  to 
themselves  are  apt  to  grow  worse,— is  a  great  blessing;  and 
as  such  it  begins  now  to  be  acknowledged  by  candid  people, 
especially  those  who  believe  in  the  divinity  of  our  Lord,  of  all 
parties  in  England.  But  by  the  indifferency  in  the  preacher, 
I  did  not  mean  to  insinuate  that  the  one  I  have  heard  to-day 
is  so,  or  that  any  other  is  whom  I  have  heard  here.  The 
contrary  is  the  case. 

"  How  the  excellency  of  our  divine  service,  which  was 
always  the  same,  (I  mean  since  the  Reformation,)  comes  now 
to  be  more  generally  and  progressively  acknowledged,  is  a 
subject  of  pleasing  inquiry.  On  this  theme  my  thoughts  have 
been  much  employed,  especially  since  in  England.  Hitherto 
I  have  been  able  to  assign  no  other  cause  for  this  favorable 
change,  so  satisfactory  to  my  own  mind  as  the  union  of 
Churchmen  and  Dissenters  in  the  laudable  design  of  circu- 
lating the  Bible  throughout  the  world.  This  union  has 
brought  together  pious  characters  of  both  and  all  parties.  By 
the  cultivation  of  friendly  sentiments,  when  promoting  a  design 
acknowledged  by  all  to  be  of  the  first  importance,  men  natu- 
rally forget  all  other  causes  of  asperity,  and  begin  to  love  one 
another.  While  in  this  happy  work,  and  the  train  of  thoughts 
to  which  it  gives  birth,  the  Dissenters  would  ask  themselves, 
in  their  retired  moments,  what  reason  they  had  to  oppose  the 
Prayer-Book,  which  bears  such  a  resemblance  to  the  Holy 
Bible  as  not  only  to  convey  the  general  doctrines  of  the  word 
of  God  distinctly  and  fairly  to  the  mind,  but  to  infuse  the  very 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  265 

spirit  of  it  in  the  heart,  and  draw  out  all  its  evangelical  pre- 
cepts into  the  life  and  conversation  of  those  who  do  not  abuse, 
but  use  this  liturgy  with  pious  constancy.  Perhaps  there  are 
many  thousands  in  England,  whose  ancestors  or  themselves 
have  been  driven  from  the  Church  by  harsh  treatment,  or  by 
witnessing  the  irreligious  lives  of  some  of  her  members,  who 
are  now  drawn  to  her  bosom  by  the  piety  and  kindness  of 
those  her  members  who  mingle  with  them  in  the  Bible  socie- 
ties. Aside  from  the  almost  miraculous  benefit  derived  to  the 
whole  world  by  the  institution  of  the  Bible  cause,  it  should,  in 
my  opinion,  claim  the  peculiar  attention  of  Churchmen  for  the 
reasons  above  stated." 

"  SUNDAY  EVENING,  DEC.  28. 

"  I  heard  Mr.  Dillon  again,  and  liked  him  better  than  ever. 
His  sermon  was  in  continuation  of  the  Christian  armor,  on  the 
'sword  of  the  Spirit,  which  is  the  word  of  God,'  or  the  Holy 
Scriptures.  I  do  not  remember  ever  before  to  have  heard  the 
same  subject  treated  in  so  perspicuous  and  useful  a  manner. 
The  benefit  of  the  word  of  God,  in  resisting  or  rather  assailing 
the  enemies  of  our  salvation, — the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the 
devil, —  was  Set  forth.  In  the  prosecution  of  his  discourse,  he 
made  an  illustration  of  the  great  use  and  absolute  necessity  of 
prayer,  in  rendering  effectual  the  word  of  God,  and  especially 
the  promises  therein  contained,  which  was  very  happy.  The 
argument  was  this:  —  The  word  of  God,  or  the  sword  of  the 
Spirit,  enables  us  to  assail  the  enemy,  and  drive  him  from  his 
work  of  tempting  us  to  sin,  when  we  keep  in  mind  and  reflect 
on  his  promises,  by  holding  out  to  us  the  reward  of  eternal  life 
and  the  joys  of  heaven,  reserved  for  those  who  finally  come 
off  victorious:  but  the  salutary  effect  to  that  end  will  not  be 
produced  by  the  promises  in  themselves  considered.  Unless 
they  be  applied  to  the  heart,  and  pleaded  before  the  throne  of 
mercy,  they  will  be  to  us  a  dead  letter.  These  promises  are 
like  bonds— of  no  real  use  till  they  are  put  in  force.  God, 
through  Jesus  Christ,  out  of  his  mere  infinite  mercy,  has  been 
pleased  to  consider  himself  in  debt  to  us ;  and  to  comfort  us  he 
has  given  us  his  bond,  based  on  the  infinite  riches  of  his  Son. 
But  these  bonds,  by  the  established  order  in  the  economy  of 

23 


266  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

grace,  are  of  no  use  to  us,  unless  we  put  them  in  force  and 
collect  them  by  our  prayers.  This,  I  will  assure  you,  had 
great  effect  on  me.  O  that  we  had  a  thousand  such  preachers 
in  Ohio,  all  engaged  in  enforcing  these  heavenly  bonds,  which 
God  hath  given  us  in  his  word  and  sacraments ! " 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

GLANCE     AT     THE     PAST A     QUESTION    ANSWERED JOURNAL     CON- 
TINUED  A  RELIGIOUS  TEA-PARTY THE    CLOSE    OF  AN    OLD   YEAR 

IN   LONDON IMPORTANT  MOVEMENT  IN   FAVOR  OF  THE  WRITER 

VISITS  MANCHESTER  AGAIN. 

As  the  present  is  an  important  period,  and  great  things  are 
often  seen  to  turn  on  small  pivots,  it  is  due  to  the  reader  that 
everything  be  set  down  with  great  care  and  fairness,  that  a 
righteous  judgment  may  be  formed  in  all  things,  especially 
from  written  documents  at  the  time  set  forth. 

It  will  be  recollected  that  the  writer's  object  in  going  to 
England  was  not  for  his  own  amusement  or  pleasure,  but 
simply  to  obtain  donations  to  establish  a  theological  seminary 
in  Ohio.  To  this  there  were  everywhere  circulated  objec- 
tions, and  assertions  made  that  New  York  had  paramount 
claims  on  British  bounty.  When  the  friends  of  this  opinion 
were  asked  for  a  reason,  seeing  that  Ohio  was  in  more  needy 
circumstances  than  New  York,  it  was  answered  that  the  latter 
was  a  general  seminary,  intended  for  all  To  this  it  was 
rejoined,  that  they  both  ought  to  be  patronized  in  peace  and 
harmony,  leaving  the  public  to  act  as  they  pleased.  In  reply 
to  this  it  was  asserted,  that  it  was  unlawful  to  contribute  to 
Ohio,  or  any  other  diocesan  seminary,  till  leave  was  obtained 
from  the  general  seminary  in  New  York,  who  alone  had  the 
power  of  saying  when  and  where  such  a  privilege  should  be 
granted  and  exercised. 

Had  the  writer  shrunk  from  opposing  a  sentiment  of  this 
character,  he  believes  he  would  have  incurred  the  just  dis- 
pleasure of  ninety-nine  hundredths  of  the  American  Episcopal 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  267 

Church,  as  well  as  the  reproaches  of  his  own  conscience.  But 
to  do  this  duty  without  a  public  war  was  the  difficulty.  A 
few  persons  agreed  to  meet,  and  the  following  question  was 
drawn  up  to  be  fairly  answered :  — 

"  One  question  asked  in  England  by  friends  of  the  Protestant 

Episcopal  Church  in  America. 

"  There  being  a  theological  school  in  New  York,  authorized 
by  the  General  Convention  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
of  the  United  States  of  America,  is  it  so  understood  by  the 
Bishops,  Clergy,  and  Laity  of  that  Church  generally,  that  all 
other  schools  for  the  education  of  young  men  for  the  Christian 
ministry  in  her  communion  are  disallowed  and  forbidden, 
except  such  branch  schools  as  the  board  of  trustees  in  the  said 
general  institution  may  deem  it  expedient  to  allow,  and  such 
as  are  under  their  control?" 

To  this  the  writer  returned  the  following  answer :  — 

"Gentlemen: — In  answering  your  question,  without  hesi- 
tation, in  the  negative,  Bishop  Chase  deems  it  his  duty — a 
duty  which  he  owes  to  the  Church  in  America — to  give  his 
reasons. 

"  1.  The  affirmative  of  this  question  is  novel  to  him,  and  he 
believes  it  to  be  so  to  the  Church  generally  in  America. 

"2.  The  same  is  not  to  be  found  in,  nor  can  it  be  reason- 
ably inferred  from,  any  publication  of  the  Church  in  the 
United  States.  Her  constitution  recognizes  no  such  principle, 
her  canons  and  laws  having  never  attempted  to  enforce  it* 

"  3.  The  negative  may  be  directly  proved  by  the  official 
statement  of  the  Bishops  when  assembled  in  General  Conven- 
tion, and  from  their  expressed  opinions  and  those  of  their 
Clergy  as  individuals  when  treating  on  this  subject. 

"  4.  If  the  affirmative  of  this  question  were  true,  then  there 
are  many  institutions  and  practices  in  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  which  (being 
directly  contrary  to  this  presumptive  and  exclusive  right  in 
the  trustees  of  the  general  theological  seminary,  and  being 
also  allowed  and  never  questioned)  would  show  the  American 


268  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

Church  to  be  at  variance  with  her  own  rules  and  customs — a 
charge  which  cannot  and  ought  not  to  he  maintained  against 

her. 

"  5.  If  the  affirmative  of  this  question  were  allowed,  a  prin- 
ciple would  be  established  which  would  operate  to  the  great 
detriment,  and  in  some  places  to  the  extinction,  of  the  Church 
in  America,  — some  parts  of  the  same  being  very  distant  from 
New  York ;  and  in  this  view  the  said  principle  is  contrary  to 
conscience,  and  cannot  be  obeyed  without  compelling  the  Bish- 
ops of  remote  dioceses  to  violate  their  consecration  vows.  In 
this  respect  it  is  worse  than  papal  arrogance,  which  never 
insisted  that  clergymen  should  be  educated  at  one  place,  or 
that  trustees  of  one  seminary  of  learning  should  control  those 
of  all  others." 

The  document  then  went  into  the  statement  and  considera- 
tion of  the  facts  on  which  the  opinion  was  given,  which,  being 
so  generally  known  in  America,  need  not  here  be  related. 

The  correspondence,  containing  a  record  of  events  exactly 
as  they  passed,  will  now  be  resumed. 

"DECEMBER  29,  1823. 

uNo.  10  Featherstone  buildings,        ) 
Holborn,  eleven  o'clock  at  night.  \ 

"My  Dear  Wife:  — 

"  Don't  think  you  are  forgotten,  though  I  have  delayed  my 
usual  time  of  writing  you.  My  task,  of  which  I  spoke  in  my 
last  Saturday's  letter,  is  now,  by  God's  assistance,  finished; 
and  to-morrow  is  the  day  fixed  on  for  my  introduction  to  a 
number  of  the  clergy  of  London.  They  will  meet  at  Mr. 
Pratt's,  to  read  my  paper,  at  two  o'clock.  From  that  time  till 
four  they  will  be  occupied  in  considering  that  question,  and 
other  matters  relating  to  my  affairs. 

"  I  shall  meet  them  at  four  for  dinner ;  after  which  a  general 
and  free  conversation,  as  I  suppose,  will  take  place.  Thus  far 
the  door  of  God's  good  providence  begins  to  be  opened.  May 
He  give  me  strength  to  enter,  and  may  I  set  him  always, 
especially  now,  before  my  eyes,  and  have  grace  to  conduct 
myself,  and  the  cause  I  have  in  hand,  with  such  wisdom  and 
prudence  as  shall  be  pleasing  in  his  sight,  through  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord!" 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  269 

"  tuesday,  dec.  30,  1823.   9,  p.  m. 

"  All  things  took  place  at  Mr.  Pratt's  as  was  anticipated,  in 
point  of  order,  matter  and  manner ;  and  I  know  of  no  event 
since  I  came  from  Ohio  which  looks  so  much  like  the  accom- 
plishment of  my  object.  I  assure  you  of  my  deep  sense  of 
gratitude  to  God  for  his  overruling  and  peculiar  providence. 

"  On  entering  the  large  study  of  Mr.  P.,  I  was  introduced  by 
him  to  about  a  dozen  clergymen,  who  saluted  me  with  great 
kindness.     The  Rev.  Mr.  P.,  who  acted  for  the  occasion  as 
chairman,  observed  that  himself  and  the  gentlemen  present 
had  been  taking  into  consideration  the  object  which  brought 
me  to  England ;  that,  as  far  as  the  time  would  allow,  they  had 
examined  the  documents  thereunto  relating;  and  that  they 
were  happy  to  observe  that  what  they  had  seen  inclined  them 
to  take  a  deep  interest  in  my  cause  and  case.     The  former 
was  pure,  holy,  and  primitive,  and  deserving  of  all  patronage; 
and  the  latter,  by  reason  of  the  opposition,  was  at  once  deli- 
cate and    painful — delicate,  as  it  involved   contention  with 
another,  on  his  part  unprovoked,  in  a  foreign  land — and  pain- 
ful to  them,  as  well  as  to  me,  in  that  it  brought  undeserved 
disrepute  on  the  sacred  calling.     There  was,  he  would  reiter- 
ate before  others,  as  he  had  remarked  in  private — there  was 
one  consolation  which  would  not  fail  to  cheer  me,  namely, 
that  I  occupied  the  enviable  ground,  and  from  which  none 
could  drive  me,  that  of  a  peace-maker.     I  could,  by  going  to 
war,  gain  much  ;  but  by  declining  a  public  contest,  I  would 
show  that  I  valued  divine  more  than  human  blessings.     By 
choosing  the  latter,  I  proved  that  I  was  guided  by  pure  and 
not  ambitious  motives.     'This,'  said  he,   'gives  us  a  pledge 
that,  in  assisting  you,  which  is  our  intention,  we  are  doing 
that  which  is  not  displeasing  in  God's  sight.    But  we  must  do 
it  by  private,  and  not  by  public  means.     A  few  facts  will  be 
adduced,  and  a  short  statement  will  be  drawn  up  by  a  sub- 
committee, and  circulated  among  our  friends  throughout  the 
city  and  kingdom,  and  we  will  see  what  can  be  done.     The 
committee  will  meet  to-morrow.' 

"The  conversation  then  took  a  turn  of  kind  inquiry,  and 
thus  continued  until  dinner.  This  was  a  frugal  feast,  sea- 
soned   with    love.      The    Rev.   Mr.   W ,    editor    of    the 

23* 


270  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

Christian  Observer,  sat  on  my  right,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pratt 
on  my  left,  and  the  learned  and  pious  conversation  went 
around.  After  the  cloth  was  removed,  they  insisted  on  my 
telling  the  story  of  the  Church  in  Ohio,  and  I  did  so. 

"We  were  summoned  to  tea.  Here  everything  was  as  it 
should  be.  A  room  full  of  the  intelligent  and  good,  enjoying 
the  bounties  of  heaven,  while  mindful  of  Him  that  blesseth ; 
all  conversing  with  mutual  kindness  and  delight;  yet  every 
remark  seasoned  with  piety  towards  God  and  good- will  to- 
wards men.  Surely,  thought  I,  this  is  some  resemblance  to 
the  happy  society  in  heaven  !  What  are  angels  but  those  who 
praise  God  and  love  his  creatures  ! 

"I  forgot  to  mention  that  I  received  this  morning  another 
letter  from  Lord  Gambier,  full  of  kind  wishes  about  my  plan, 
and  giving  me  an  invitation  to  visit  him  again  at  Iver  Grove 
before  the  meeting  of  Parliament.  I  gave  the  letter  to  Mr. 
Pratt,  who  called  a  moment  this  morning,  just  as  it  was  re- 
ceived ;  and  this  is  the  reason  I  cannot  copy  it  for  your  peru- 
sal. I  am  sorry,  as  this  must  go  to  the  letter-bag  to-morrow 
for  the  Liverpool  packet,  and  Mr.  P.  and  the  sub-committee 
will  want  the  letter  till  it  is  too  late,  I  fear,  for  me  to  tran- 
scribe it. 

"And  now,  dear  Sophia,  with  the  inmost  feelings  of  our 
souls  let  us  bless  God  for  this  instance  of  his  mercy  to  us,  that 
he  hath  'opened  the  door,  and  thus  pointed  out  the  way'  in 
which  we  can  fulfil  his  will  in  being  the  instruments  of  salva- 
tion to  thousands." 

The  letter  of  Lord  Gambier,  above  spoken  of,  is  as  fol- 
lows :  — 

"Iver  Grove,  Dec.  29,  1823. 
"My  Dear  Sir:  — 

"I  cease  not  to  retain  you  in  my  mind  with  much  esteem, 
and  earnestly  to  wish  every  success  to  your  endeavors  in  the 
cause  you  are  engaged  in  for  the  benefit  of  the  scattered  flock  in 
your  diocese ;  and  I  have  often  considered  since  you  were  here 
how  I  might  assist  you  in  your  pious  work.  *  *  *  If  my 
name,  as  a  person  who  earnestly  desires  to  support  and  promote 
the  interests  of  the  Church  of  England,  can  be  of  any  the  least 
use  to  your  cause,  I  beg  you  will  make  any  use  you  please  of 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  271 

it,  however  little  the  name  of  so  insignificant  a  person  as  I 
am  may  avail  you.  I  mention  this  because,  when  I  had  the 
pleasure  of  your  company  here,  you  may  remember  I  rather 
advised  differently. 

"It  has  been  suggested  to  me,  that  if  you  could  procure  a 
recommendation  of  your  cause  to  the  universities  of  Cam- 
bridge and  Oxford,  it  might  be  of  great  use.  I  have  no  ac- 
quaintance with  the  vice-chancellors  of  either  of  them,  but 
perhaps  in  the  course  of  the  ensuing  month,  when  many  of 
the  friends  of  religion  come  to  London  from  their  country 
residences,  we  may  find  some  one  of  them  that  would  assist 
you.     Perhaps  Mr.  Pratt  would  give  you  his  opinion  on  this 

point. 

"  If  you  should  be  inclined  to  pass  any  time  out  of  London, 
I  shall  be  happy  if  you  would  favor  me  with  the  pleasure  of 
your  company,  as  I  shall  be  stationary  all  the  next  month. 

"  I  remain,  dear  sir,  with  truth  and  esteem,  your  sincere, 
humble  friend,  Gambier." 

To  which  the  writer  returned  the  following  answer  :  — 

"London,  Dec.  31,  1S23. 

"My  Lord:  — 

"  I  received  your  Lordship's  kind  note  of  the  29th  inst.  yes- 
terday, and  should  have  answered  it  by  the  return  of  post,  but 
that  I  desired  to  communicate  the  result  of  a  meeting  of  a 
number  of  gentlemen,  to  consider  the  merits  and  means  of  pro- 
moting the  cause  which  brought  me  to  England.  That  meet- 
ing took  place  yesterday,  soon  after  the  reception  of  your 
favor,  and  appointed  a  sub-committee,  who  will  come  together 
this  day.  The  result  of  their  deliberations  remains  to  be  seen. 
If,  however,  I  may  judge  from  what  was  said  and  done  yes- 
terday, and  from  their  affectionate  treatment  of  me,  I  have 
reason  to  believe  that  their  deliberations  and  proceedings  will 
tend  to  the  success  of  my  plan,  to  the  peace  of  the  Church,  and 
the  glory  of  (iod. 

"I  drshc  to  express  to  your  Lordship  my  grateful  return 
for  the  kind  invitation  to  renew  the  pleasure  of  a  visit  to  Iver 
Grove.  Most  gladly  would  I  accept  the  honor  of  such  an 
invitation,  hut   that  1  have  made  some  engagements  to  be  in 


272  bishop   chase's  reminiscences. 

Manchester  and  Derbyshire  during  the  period  of  time  men- 
tioned by  your  Lordship.  My  good  friend  Mr.  T.  Wiggin  has 
manifested  his  love  and  zeal  for  my  cause,  by  opening  a  door 
of  success  beyond  my  expectation.  He  observes  that  your 
Lordship's  patronage  in  that  quarter  would  essentially  serve 
me,  and  begs  me  to  ask  the  favor  of  letters  to  pious  characters 
in  that  part  of  the  kingdom.  A  very  respectable  friend  of  Mr. 
W.  will  introduce  me  to  some  persons  in  Derbyshire,  who  will 
take  an  interest  in  the  Ohio  seminary ;  '  but  to  ensure  suc- 
cess,' he  continues,  '  Lord  Gambier's  letters  would  be  very 
desirable.' 

"  With  grateful  and  respectful  sentiments,  I  remain  your 
Lordship's  most  faithful  friend  and  humble  servant, 

"P.  Chase. 

"  DEC  31,  10  O'CLOCK,  P.  M. 

"So  far  is  Christianity  from  growing  old  and  passing  off 
with  the  old  year  which  is  now  expiring,  that  its  holy  truths 
seem  to  commence  their  power  with  the  new  year  now  ap- 
proaching. What  is  past  of  my  ministerial  life  seems  not  to 
have  even  the  value  of  a  dream ;  it  is  more  like  lethargy.  I 
have  done  so  little  in  the  cause  of  my  Master,  that  it  seems  I 
have  all  things  yet  to  perform ;  the  future  only  has  importance 
with  me.  I  have  been  but  an  unprofitable  and  slothful  ser- 
vant, and  the  dreadful  thought,  that  thousands  will  lament,  in 
a  miserable  eternity,  their  hapless  condition,  whom  I  might 
have  been  instrumental  in  turning  from  sin  to  righteousness, 
presses  down  my  soul  with  sorrow  and  deep  contrition.  What 
pang  can  be  more  excruciating  than  that  which  this  occasions? 
It  is  not  only  pain,  but  has  in  itself  the  cause  of  continuity  of 
pain.  In  this  it  resembles  fire,  which  progresses  as  it  burns ; 
nought  can  quench  it  but  the  tears  of  penitence,  through  faith 
in  Jesus  Christ,  which  now  flow  fast  upon  my  paper.  If  this 
be  considered  weakness  in  me,  I  desire  to  be  accounted  weak. 

"  But  the  new  year  is  coming — just  at  hand.  As  I  step 
upon  it,  therefore,  I  promise,  in  God's  strength,  to  commence 
a  new  life,  devoted  to  his  will,  in  seeking  my  own  and  others' 
salvation.  No  act  of  my  life  henceforward  shall  be  aimed  at 
anything  inconsistent  with  God's  holy  will;  and  may  His 
spirit  confirm  me  in  this  vow,   and  enable  me  to  perform 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  273 

it.  And  will  you  join  me  in  this,  dear  Sophia?  In  the  per- 
formance of  it,  are  you  willing  to  take  the  evil  and  the  good; 
the  hard  and  difficult  dispensations  of  God's  providence,  as 
well  as  those  more  cheering  ?  I  know  your  answer.  I  know, 
if  anything  I  know,  that  you  will  be  as  you  have  been  hith- 
erto, 'a  help  meet  for  me.'  With  me  you  will  travel  the  path 
of  trial,  not  looking  for  present  but  iot  future  joys. 

"It  wants  only  a  few  minutes  now  of  A.  D.  1824,  and  a 
happy  new  year  I  wish  you.  May  we  spend  it  more  to  God's 
glory  than  any  former  year  of  our  lives,  through  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord." 

"THURSDAY,  JAN.  1,  1824.    2  P.  M. 

"  Now,  dear  Sophia,  I  will  tell  you  what  passed  at  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Pratt's. 

"  He  observed  that  the  meeting  of  the  sub-committee  took 
place  in  his  study  yesterday,  and  that  all  things  went  on  as 
could  be  wished.  The  merits  of  my  cause  were  canvassed 
from  beginning  to  end,  and  the  confidence  of  the  committee 
increased  at  every  stage  of  the  inquiry.  The  facts  stated  in 
a  recent  number  of  the  British  Critic  were  pronounced  not 
founded  in  truth. 

"The  resolutions  of  the  committee  were  drawn  up  and 
unanimously  passed,  a  fair  copy  of  which  will  be  sent  you 
hereafter. 

"  When  the  resolutions  of  the  London  clergy  were  passed, 
they  were  not  intended  for  present  publication,  but  as  furnish- 
ing the  groundwork  of  proceedings  by  the  acting  committee 
in  my  favor.  This  committee  you  see  are  named,  and  among 
them  is  the  Rev.  Thomas  Hartwell  Home.  This  is  the  iden- 
tical individual  who  wrote  the  '  review  in  the  British  Critic,' 
which,  being  republished  in  the  Philadelphia  Recorder,  and 
reported  to  me  by  my  dear  son,  suggested  the  first  idea  of  my 
coming  to  old  England.  Mr.  Pratt  told  me  that  when  that 
gentleman  came  to  reflect  on  the  difference  between  the  late 
article,  and  that,  which  he  had  furnished  some  time  ago  for 
this  work,  he  was  struck  with  horror.  He  will  be  an  active 
and  efficient  friend,  and  endeavor  to  wipe  away  the  stain 
which  lias  been  cast  upon  the  pages  of  that  publication. 


274  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

"  All  will  be  conducted  with  as  little  reference  to  individ- 
uals as  possible.  They  will  rely  on  the  reasonableness  and 
necessity  of  the  case,  and  on  the  exhibition  of  evidence  to  show 
the  righteousness  of  my  cause,  more  than  on  the  weapons  of 
warfare  and  recrimination.  '  We  will  shield  and  defend  you, 
but  the  most  gentle  methods  will  first  be  tried ;  and  necessity 
alone  shall  cause  an  alteration  of  this  course.'  Thus  said  the 
good  and  excellent  Mr.  Pratt. 

"  For  these  prospects  of  success,  my  recent  sufferings  have, 
by  the  grace  of  God,  prepared  me  in  an  especial  manner  for 
the  exercise  of  gratitude ;  and  though  I  feel  more  grateful  than 
I  can  express,  yet  I  fear  my  returns  of  thankfulness  are  by  no 
means  adequate  to  the  mercies  which  the  Divine  Goodness  is 
pouring  on  me.  Jesus  must  pay  this  debt  also.  His  blood 
has  atoned  for  my  guilt.  The  incense  of  his  sacrifice  God 
will  receive  in  lieu  of  our  merit. 

"  I  forgot  to  mention  in  its  place  (for  it  is  now  seven  o'clock, 
P.  M.)  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Venn,  who  was  one  of  those  who 
attended  the  meeting  day  before  yesterday,  called  this  after- 
noon, and  entered  into  much  conversation  touching  the  true 
interests  of  the  western  country  of  America.  In  about  two 
hours  after  he  had  left  me,  he  sent  me  an  elegantly-bound 
volume,  the  work  of  his  pious  and  learned  grandfather.  Is 
not  this  the  first  fruits  of  a  harvest  for  Ohio?  One  more 
worthy  of  the  cause  could  not  be  named. 

"And  now,  my  dear  wife,  you,  who  have  shared  my  toils 
and  troubles,  yea,  agonies  of  soul,  in  this  hazardous  undertak- 
ing, will, — I  know  you  will, — share  also  with  me  in  the  joys, 
even  of  a  glimmer  of  hope  of  holy  triumph,  which,  through 
God's  goodness,  breaks  in  from  the  dark  cloud  which  hung 
over  us ;  and  as  you  have  taught  the  dear  children  to  pray  for 
their  father  in  distress,  even  so  teach  them  now  to  give  thanks 
for  God's  mercies  shown  him." 

"FRIDAY,  JAN.  2.     11  P.  M. 

11  You  see  it  is  late,  and  I  have  but  a  few  minutes  in  which 
to  note  the  events  of  the  day. 

"  I  told  Mr.  Pratt  that  I  wished  to  go  to  Manchester.  He 
said  he  would  prepare  letters  to  friends  in  that  place  and  Liv- 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  275 

erpool,  and  Lord  Gambier  would  probably  send  his  to  Derby- 
shire in  the  course  of  to-morrow ;  so  that  by  Monday  or  Tues- 
day at  furthest,  I  may  set  off  on  a  visit  to  those  cities,  and 
spend  my  time  till  the  meeting  of  Parliament  more  profitably 
to  my  cause  than  in  London. 

"I  then  returned,  and  commenced  my  long  walk  to  Grove 
End  place,  near  Regent's  Park,  about  three  miles  from  this,  to 
see  Mr.  Wilks.  My  time  at  his  house  was  spent  most  agree- 
ably. How  could  it  be  otherwise?  Leaving  Mr.  W.'s,  I  dined 
with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stuart,  with  whom  and  his  lady  I  had 
much  Christian  conversation.  After  tea,  the  servants  being 
called  in.  a  hymn  was  sung,  in  which  they  all  joined.  A  por- 
tion of  Scripture  was  then  read,  and  the  whole  was  closed 
with  prayer.  This  is  another  instance  of  English  piety  and 
order.  Surely  the  Lord  will  bless  this  nation  if  such  be  her 
seers." 

"SATURDAY,  JAN.  3. 

"I  wrote  a  letter  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wilks,  with  a  view  of  his 
showing  it  to  the  Bishop  of  St.  David's,  Dr.  Burgess,  with 
whom  Mr.  W.  said  he  was  intimate.  For  Mr.  W.  had  pre- 
viously told  me  that  this  good  Bishop,  in  his  hearing,  had 
been  addressed  in  words  very  disadvantageous  to  the  cause 
of  Ohio,  and  now  that  his  own  mind  had  been  disabused  on 
that  subject,  I  hoped  he  would  take  pleasure  in  correcting  that 
of  the  Welch  Bishop.  Another  motive  of  writing  the  letter 
was  that  of  obtaining  a  Welch  preacher,  for  the  benefit  of  the 
people  of  that  language  who  had  emigrated  from  Wales  to 
Ohio,  and  who,  if  attended  to  in  time,  might  be  retained  in  the 
fold  of  our  primitive  Church. 

"  I  went  to  Mr.  Pratt's,  and  had  further  conversation  with 
that  excellent  gentleman.  He  read  to  me  a  rough  draft  of 
what  the  committee  are  going  to  put  soon  to  press.  They 
have  made  too  much  of  me  personally ;  but  he  says  I  must  let 
the  committee  do  as  they  think  proper  in  this  respect.  It  will 
be  printed  soon,  but  not  till  I  am  gone  to  Manchester;  thither 
it  will  follow  me,  and  will  be  called  lAn  Appeal  in  behalf  of 
the  Diocese  of  Ohio.1" 


276  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

"  sunday,  jan.  4. 
"  Received  the  blessed  sacrament  of  the  body  and  blood  of 
Christ,  and  attended  divine  service  both  morning  and  evening. 
The  day  has  been  mild,  and  the  duties  exceedingly  impres- 
sive. If  ever  I  praised  God  through  a  principle  of  true  faith, 
it  has  been  to-day." 

"MONDAY  MORNING,  11  O'CLOCK,  JAN.  5. 

"  The  Rev.  Mr.  Wilks  came  to  my  lodgings,  when  the  fol- 
lowing conversation  passed  between  us :  — 

"Mr.  W.  I  have,  sir,  just  come  from  Mr.  Pratt's,  who  read 
to  me  what  he  had  written,  in  accordance  with  the  resolutions 
of  the  committee  on  your  affairs,  and  I  can  hardly  express  to 
you  the  satisfaction  I  feel  in  his  performance.  It  represents 
the  whole  case  in  a  true  and  striking  light,  and  exceeds  my 
expectations.     Have  you  seen  it,  sir  ? 

"Bishop  C.  Yes,  sir.  Mr.  P.  was  good  enough  to  read 
me  a  considerable  portion  before  the  whole  was  completed. 
What  I  did  hear  not  only  met  my  approbation,  but  com- 
manded my  gratitude,  especially  to  God,  who  has  thus  merci- 
fully given  me  the  assistance  of  such  cordial  friends,  and  such 
favor  in  their  eyes. 

"Mr.  W.  To  pass  from  this  subject  which  detained  me  so 
long  with  Mr.  Pratt,  I  must  tell  you  what  brought  me  from 
home  so  early  this  morning.  I  received  in  due  time  your  note 
respecting  the  Welch  colony  in  your  diocese.  As  the  Bishop 
of  St.  David's  attends  the  chapel  in  which  I  minister,  I  con- 
trived so  as  to  walk  home  with  him  after  divine  service.  In 
doing  so  I  mentioned  the  subject  of  your  affairs.  He  told  me 
that  your  name  was  familiar  to  him ;  that  he  had  heard  from 
several  quarters  what  you  were  about,  and  lately  had  formed 
a  very  favorable  opinion  of  you ;  —  that  the  opposition  latterly 
was  not  viewed  in  a  favorable  light,  even  by  the  members  of 
the  Bartlet  Buildings  Society ;  — that  he  (the  Bishop  of  St. 
D.)  had  heard  the  secretary  speak  unfavorably  of  the  opposi- 
tion. This  frank  declaration  on  the  part  of  the  Bishop  of  St. 
David's  gave  me  an  opportunity  to  show  him  the  letter 
which  I  had  received  from  you.  He  read  it  with  much 
interest,  and  said  he  would  endeavor  to  find  the  man  you 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  277 

wish.  £I  will  write,'  said  he,  'to  my  rural  dean,  who  is 
acquainted  with  the  country  people,  and  if  such  a  man  as  the 
Bishop  of  Ohio  wants  is  to  be  found,  he  shall  be  forthcoming. 
Pray  may  I  keep  this  letter  of  Bishop  C.'s,  and  send  it  to 
Wales?'  I  told  him  I  would  consult  you  on  the  subject,  but 
supposed  you  would  have  no  objection. 

"  Bishop  C.  Dear  sir,  you  and  the  good  Bishop  of  St. 
David's  can  make  what  use  you  please  of  the  letter. 

"Mr.  W.  But  his  Lordship  says  he  must  see  you  before 
you  go  to  Manchester.  He  told  me  he  would  call  on  you  and 
pay  every  respect  which  the  rules  of  civility  require ;  but  I 
told  him  that  being  in  hopes  to  set  off  for  Manchester,  you 
would  not  require  it,  but  that  I  would  go  immediately  on 
Monday  (this)  morning,  and  prevail  on  you  to  meet  him,  if 
agreeable  to  you,  at  his  lodgings  to-night  at  eight  o'clock,  and 
take  coffee  with  him.  Now,  sir,  will  you  have  the  goodness 
to  delay  a  little,  and  follow  this  seemingly  providential  occur- 
rence ? 

"Bishop  C.  I  feel  grateful  to  you  and  the  Bishop,  and  am 
entirely  at  your  disposal. 

"Mr.  W.  I  beg  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  meet  a  few 
friends  at  six,  at  a  society-room  where  we  have  a  little  busi- 
ness to  transact,  and  then  we  will  walk  together  to  my  Lord 
Bishop  of  St.  David's. 

"  Thus  the  dialogue  ended." 

"MONDAY,  11  P.  M.,  JAN.  5. 

"Though  it  is  very  late,  yet  the  events  of  two  days  ought 
not  to  be  crowded  into  one  letter.  Their  importance  requires 
that  they  be  kept  separate,  that  you  may  see  all  things  as  they 
pass. 

"One  quarter  before  six,  I  had  finished  my  frugal  dinner, 
and  went  to  the  society,  consisting  of  a  number  of  the  Church 
clergy,  and  there  met  with  Mr.  Wilks,  Mr.  Home,  Mr. 
Mortimer,  Mr.  B.  Wood,  and  Mr.  Webster ;  I  don't  remember 
the  rest  of  their  names.  They  spent  a  few  minutes  in  dis- 
cussing an  interesting  question,  and  then  joined  in  a  little  kind 
conversation  with  me.  As  we  were  going  away,  and  walk- 
ing a  few  squares  to  get  a  coach  to  drive  to  the  lodgings  of 

24 


278  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

the  Bishop  of  St.  David's,  Mr.  Home  joined  me  arm  in  arm. 
He  expressed  his  great  friendship  for  me,  and  observed  he 
was  preparing  something  more  for  the  British  Critic.  '  His 
statements  would  be  very  different,'  he  said,  '  from  those  fur- 
nished by  the  opposition.  Indeed,  I  am  surprised  at  the 
course  which  has  been  taken  to  mislead  the  British  public. 
The  cause  you  have  in  hand  is  evidently  the  work  of  the 
the  Lord,  and  we  trust  that  He  will  support  it.'  These,  as 
nearly  as  I  can  recollect,  were  his  words  when  we  parted. 

"I  rode  with  the  Rev.  Basil  Wood  and  Mr.  Wilks;  the 
former  is  the  rector  of  the  Church  wherein  the  latter  is  curate. 
In  a  few  minutes  we  were  set  down,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wilks 
and  myself  proceeded  to  the  Bishop  of  St.  David's. 

"We  found  a  venerable,  but  very  intelligent  gentleman, 
with  a  small,  snug  wig,  black,  old-fashioned,  long-waisted 
coat,  and  Bishop's  silk  cassock.  He  received  us  without  the 
least  unnecessary  ceremony,  seated  us,  and  ordered  coffee, 
which  being  before  him,  he,  doing  just  as  our  ladies  do  in 
America,  poured  it  out  and  handed  the  cup  across  to  us  as  we 
sat  around  the  fire.  The  primitive  simplicity  and  godly  sin- 
cerity of  this  very  learned  gentleman  immediately  took  pos- 
session of  my  heart's  best  affections,  and  in  a  few  minutes  put 
me  at  my  ease,  and  induced,  in  answer  to  his  judicious  and 
pertinent  questions,  a  very  free  conversation. 

"  On  the  subject  of  the  opposition  with  which  I  had  met  in 
England  he  observed,  that  he  had  seen  and  heard  it  and  was 
prejudiced  against  me  as  a  schismatic,  but  that  hearing  other 
statements,  he  had  altered  his  opinion.  '  Your  seminary  is  to 
be  under  the  Bishop,  and  you  have  made  it  so  by  legal  requi- 
sition. If  you  are  a  schismatic  I  am  such,  for  I  am  establish- 
ing a  school  for  the  education  of  ministers  in  Wales,  although 
Oxford  is  comparatively  so  near.  If  this  is  required  in  this 
country,  where  the  distances  are  so  little  compared  with 
America,  how  much  more  forcibly  can  you  urge  the  necessity 
of  a  school  for  the  education  of  young  men  for  the  ministry  in 

Ohio ! ' 

"We  then  went  into  a  general  conversation  about  the  first 
foundation  of  the  diocese  of  Ohio,  of  the  condition  of  the 
parishes,  and  of  the  want  of  ministers.     This  brought  up  the 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  279 

subject  of  the  Welch  emigrants.  He  said  he  feared  a  person 
suited  to  my  wishes  could  not  be  obtained,  but  signified  that 
he  would  try.  In  short,  I  am  delighted  with  this  excellent 
Bishop,  and  never  shall  forget  him.  I  have  not  told  you  the 
twentieth  part  of  what  was  said,  but  from  this  sample  you 
may  fancy  pretty  nearly  his  true  character. 

"  About  ten  I  took  my  leave,  and  walked  three  miles  to  my 
lodgings.  Thus  another  day  is  gone,  I  hope  not  in  vain. 
May  God  in  mercy  forgive  what  he  hath  seen  amiss,  in 
thought,  word  or  deed,  in  your  affectionate  husband." 

Geo.  W.  Marriott,  Esq.,  of  32  Queen's  square,  performs  a 
conspicuous  part  in  this  benevolent  drama.  His  introduction 
was  as  unexpected  as  his  subsequent  acquaintance  was  bene- 
ficial to  the  writer. 

One  day  in  the  first  week  of  1824,  on  returning  to  his  lodg- 
ings, the  writer  saw  a  card  on  his  table,  which  signified  that 
the  gentleman  just  named  had  called,  and  would  again  call  at 
such  a  time;  and  if  the  writer  should  return  in  the  mean 
while  and  be  obliged  to  leave  before  the  specified  period,  the 
gentleman  would  thank  him  to  leave  a  notice  on  his  table  sig- 
nifying when  he  would  be  at  home,  and  he  would  call  again. 
While  he  was  reading  this  note  G.  W.  M.  himself  came  into 
the  room,  and  with  great  kindness  introduced  himself.  Never 
was  so  short  an  acquaintance  attended  with  more  pathos ;  Mr. 
M.'s  questions  were  so  much  to  the  point  of  finding  out  the 
whole  matter  of  the  writer's  reasons  for  leaving  America,  and 
the  hindrances  he  had  met  with  in  England,  that  in  answer- 
ing them  the  heart  was  too  deeply  affected  to  be  under  reason- 
able control.  The  whole  scene  was  interesting,  laying  the 
foundation  of  great  intimacy. 

The  following  is  the  record  of  his  journal  a  few  days  after- 
wards :  — 

"JANUARY  6. 

"  Received  a  note  from  Mr.  Marriott  inviting  me  to  dine  to- 
morrow at  five ;  hopes  Dr.  Gaskin  will  be  able  to  be  present ; 
begs  to  receive  an  answer.     Wrote  the  following :  — 


280  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

"lNo.  10  Feather  stone  buildings,  ) 
twelve  o'clock,  Jan.  6,  1824.     ; 

<"  Bishop  C.  is  grateful  for  the  honor  of  Mr.  Marriott's 
call,  and  assures  him  that  the  kind  invitation  contained  in  his 
note  shall,  with  the  leave  of  Providence,  be  complied  with. 

"  '  Bishop  C.  will  feel  himself  particularly  happy  in  meeting 
Dr.  Gaskin,  of  whom  he  has  heard  so  many  things  so  worthy.' 

"  This  is  of  much  importance.  To  prevent  another  disap- 
pointment, in  getting  off  my  letters  for  the  packets  at  Liverpool, 
I  must  close  here  this  long  portion  of  my  journal.  May  the 
good  God  preserve  it  for  your  use,  and  bless  both  you  and  the 
children.  Compose  a  prayer  of  thanksgiving  to  God  for 
great  mercies  shown  their  father,  and  make  them  learn  it  and 
say  it  with  you.     Do  this  I  entreat  you. 

"Give  the  thread  of  my  history  to  my  nephew,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Morse,  and  to  our  dear  Philander.  May  God  preserve 
us,  bless  us,  and  permit  us  in  mercy  to  meet  again.     So  prays 

vour  faithful  P-  C.' 

j 

«  JANUARY  7,  3  P.  M. 

"  Mr.  G.  W.  Marriott,  with  whom  I  am  to  dine  this  after- 
noon, called  on  me  this  morning.  He  seems  a  pious  and  good 
man,  and  spoke  much  of  the  two  non-established  Churches  of 
Scotland  and  America.     But  more  of  this  gentleman  after 

dinner. 

"  The  Rev.  Mr.  Pratt  came  in  and  delivered  me  a  fair  copy 
of  the  '  Resolutions  of  the  London  Clergy.'  This  instrument 
is  of  the  greatest  importance  to  me,  not  only  as  it  is  the 
groundwork  of  the  proceedings  here,  but  as  it  will  shield  me 
from  the  character  of  rashness ;  from  having  acted  in  any 
way  but  in  strict  conformity  to  the  advice  of  the  best  of  men, 
who  are  acquainted  with  the  whole  nature  and  bearings  of  the 
case.  I  shall  reserve  the  original,  and  send  the  following  copy 
to  you :  — 

"  '  At  a  meeting  of  clergymen,  held  on  the  31st  of  Decem- 
ber, 1823,  various  documents  relative  to  the  visit  of  the  Right 
Rev.  Bishop  Chase  to  this  country  were  taken  into  considera- 
tion, when  the  following  resolutions  were  adopted ;  and  at  a 


bishop   chase's    reminiscences.  281 

subsequent  meeting,  held  on  the  7th  of  January,  1824,  the 
Rev.  Henry  Budd,  M.  A.,  minister  of  Bridewell  precinct,  and 
rector  of  White  Rooming,  Essex,  in  the  chair,  the  said  reso- 
lutions were  confirmed. 

"  '1.  That  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  diocese  of  Ohio,  in  the 
Episcopal  Church  of  the  United  States,  the  only  diocese  yet 
established  in  the  western  territory,  call  for  special  provision 
and  assistance. 

"  '2.  That  appropriate  and  adequate  provision  for  the  sup- 
ply of  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  said  diocese  requires  the 
establishment  of  an  institution  on  the  spot,  in  which  natives 
of  the  country  may  be  trained  for  the  ministry  at  an  expense 
within  their  reach,  and  in  habits  suited  to  the  sphere  of  their 
labors. 

"  '  3.  That  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Chase  is  fully  justified  by 
the  circumstances  of  the  case,  in  appealing  to  the  benevolence 
of  this  country ;  and  that  in  undertaking  to  be  the  messenger 
of  his  diocese  on  the  occasion,  notwithstanding  the  privations 
and  difficulties  inseparable  from  such  a  mission,  that  Rt.  Rev. 
prelate  is  entitled  to  the  veneration  and  gratitude  of  those 
who  desire  the  extension  and  increasing  influence  of  our  holy 
faith,  especially  in  that  pure  and  primitive  form  in  which  it  is 
propagated  by  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Churches  of  Great 
Britain  and  America. 

" '  4  That  this  meeting  does,  therefore,  tender  to  the  Rt. 
Rev.  Bishop  Chase  its  respectful  acknowledgments  and  affec- 
tionate regard,  and  pledges  itself  to  the  adoption  and  prose- 
cution of  such  measures  as  shall  seem  best  adapted  to  promote 
the  object  of  his  visit ;  and  thinks  it  due  to  him,  under  the  cir- 
cumstances in  which  he  has  been  placed  in  this  country,  that 
he  should  be  relieved  to  the  utmost  of  personal  labor  and 
responsibility. 

'"5.  That  however  Bishop  Chase  might  be  justified  in 
laying  before  the  people  of  this  country,  in  his  own  name,  a 
statement  of  the  facts  of  the  case,  in  reference  to  some  objec- 
tions which  have  been  here  published,  and  might  even  seem 
called  upon  to  do  so  in  vindication  of  himself ;  yet,  taking  into 
account  the  painful  consequences  of  a  contest,  and  under- 
standing that  it   is  the   Bishop's   wish   and  determination  to 

24* 


282  bishop   chase's   reminiscences, 

avoid  to  the  utmost  appearing  as  a  controversialist  in  this 
country,  this  meeting  would  express  its  respectful  and  cordial 
approbation  of  the  Christian  forbearance  of  Bishop  Chase,  in 
abstaining  from  such  a  course  of  proceeding. 

•"  '  6.  That  a  statement  of  the  peculiar  wants  of  the  diocese 
of  Ohio  and  the  object  of  Bishop  Chase's  visit,  be  drawn  up  in 
a  conciliatory  spirit,  and  avoiding  as  much  as  possible  all 
matter  of  controversy ;  and  that  the  said  statement,  together 
with  any  documents  which  may  appear  requisite,  be  circu- 
lated, in  the  name  of  the  friends  of  Bishop  Chase,  at  the  dis- 
cretion of  a  committee  to  be  appointed  for  those  purposes. 

"'7.  That  the  Rev.  Thomas  Hart  well  Home,  the  Rev. 
Josiah  Pratt,  the  Rev.  Henry  Venn,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Web- 
ster, and  the  Rev.  Samuel  C.  Wilks,  do  form  the  said  com- 
mittee, and  be  further  charged  with  making  the  most  effectual 
arrangements  for  promoting  the  object  of  Bishop  Chase's  visit 
to  this  country. 

"  '  8.  That  a  subscription  be  opened  in  behalf  of  the  diocese 
of  Ohio,  and  that  Henry  Hoare,  Esq.,  be  requested  to  act  as 
treasurer  of  the  fund,  and  the  Rt.  Hon.  Lord  Gambier  and 
Mr.  Hoare  to  allow  the  proceeds  to  be  vested  in  government 
securities,  in  their  joint  names,  until  the  same  shall  be  drawn 
for  by  the  proper  authorities. 

"'That  these  resolutions  be  respectfully  submitted  to  the 
Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Chase. 

"  '  H.  Budd,  Chairman.' 

"  You  will  observe  that  these  resolutions  will  not  be  printed 
with  the  'Appeal,'  but  be  retained  by  the  clergy  and  myself 
for  future  use,  as  each  may  have  occasion.  It  is  sent  to  you 
now  for  your  private  inspection,  and  to  be  preserved  as  an 
item  of  history  of  the  Church  in  Ohio.  The  same  observation 
applies  to  the  copy  of  the  instrument  of  donation  of  my  prop- 
erty in  Ohio  to  the  theological  seminary.  I  hope  that  the 
good  God  will  not  frown  on  these  proceedings,  but  regard 
them  in  mercy  for  Jesus'  sake.     Amen. 

"  Your  faithful  P.  Chase." 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  283 

"JANUARY  12. 

"  Piatt  Hall)  Manchester. 
"My  Dear  Wife:  — 

"You  see  where  I  am.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.,  last  Friday- 
night,  received  me  very  kindly,  and  I  felt  once  more  at  home, 
though  in  a  foreign  land.  I  set  off  from  London  at  half  past 
four.  G.  W.  Marriott,  Esq.,  with  whom  in  my  last  I  told  you 
I  was  to  dine,  was  at  my  lodgings  when  I  paid  off  my  land- 
lady, and  bade  me  adieu  for  Manchester. 

"  Dr.  Gaskin  was  not  at  dinner  as  was  expected,  and  Mr. 
M.  was  evidently  chagrined ;  for  myself  I  felt  decidedly  so, 
and  got  off  as  soon  as  decency  would  allow.  This  was  on  the 
7th.  On  the  8th,  as  if  conscious  that  the  interview  between 
us  had  not  been  as  agreeable  as  was  expected,  Mr.  M.  called 
in  the  morning  at  my  lodgings,  and  told  me  he  had  written  a 
note  to  Dr.  Gaskin,  some  miles  out  of  town,  to  desire  he  would 
come  up  and  see  me  before  I  left  town  in  the  coach  at  half 
past  four.  Mr.  Marriott  continued  to  say  many  things  very 
respectful  and  kind,  and  in  return  I  said  things  relating  to  my 
affairs  which  evidently  astonished  him.  At  times  he  would 
seem  to  gaze  upon  me  in  amazement;  his  countenance  and 
manner  seemed  to  say,  '  How  mistaken  we  all  have  been  ! 
This  is  not  the  being  whom  the  "Notices"  and  review  in  the 
British  Critic  have  depicted  to  the  eye  of  the  British  public  ! 
We  have  all  been  misled  —  we  have  been  imposed  on.'  Many 
things  dropped  from  him  in  conversation,  which  led  me  to 
believe  I  was  not  wrong  in  thus  interpreting  his  looks  and 
manner. 

"  He  left,  telling  me  he  would  call  again  before  I  left  town. 
Accordingly  he  did,  and  said  that  Dr.  Gaskin  could  not  come; 
but  still  insisted  that  it  was  not  for  want  of  desire  to  see  me. 
'  For,'  said  he,  '  he  has  been  trying  to  find  you  for  this  month 
past,  and  more  anxious  than  perhaps  you  imagine.1  (I  know 
not  what  he  meant  by  this  expression.)  He  added,  'You 
have  told  me  that  your  friends  have  prepared  a  statement  of 
your  case  for  private  circulation;  will  you  have  the  goodness 
to  send,  oi  direct  that  there  shall  be  sent,  three  copies,  one  to 
the  Bishop  of  St.  David's,  one  for  Dr.  Gaskin,  and  one  for 
myself?'     I  answered  in  the  affirmative,  and  so  we  parted 


284  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

with  mutual  good  feelings.     He  called  again  at  my  setting 

off. 

"  On  the  8th  the  coach  went  with  diligence  and  rapidity  all 
night  towards  Manchester.  I  got  but  little  sleep,  and  had 
much  time  to  say  my  prayers  and  think  of  you  and  the  dear 

children. 

"  All  day  on  Friday  the  9th  I  enjoyed  myself  in  gazing  at 
the  prospects  in  English  landscapes  as  we  passed  rapidly 
along.  They  are  more  beautiful,  even  at  this  time  of  the 
year,  than  I  had  ever  fancied.  Hill  and  dale — gardens  and 
forests — hedges  and  fields — canals  winding  through  the  val- 
leys, and  rows  of  trees  rising  up  and  down  the  distant  hills  — 
these,  joined  with  the  neatness  of  the  fields,  and  of  the  cast- 
iron  fences  round  the  gardens,  and  the  gravel-walks  in  every 
direction,  enchanted  me.  'Blessed  old  England,'  thought  I, 
'  may  thy  moral  resemble  thy  natural  and  civil  character  ! 
Then  shalt  thou  be  blessed  indeed.' 

"  The  night  of  the  9th  drew  on  before  we  had  reached  Man- 
chester by  twelve  or  fifteen  miles.  It  was  nearly  eight  before 
we  arrived  at  a  little  hamlet  called  Longside,  about  one  fourth 
of  a  mile  across  the  fields  to  Mr.  W.'s.  '  Pull  up  here,  coach- 
man,' said  a  friend  who  knew  my  intention  to  go  to  Piatt 
Hall ;  £  pull  up,  the  gentleman  wishes  to  alight.'  I  soon  was 
set  down,  and  as  soon  engaged  a  man  for  a  shilling  to  carry 
my  luggage  across  the  fields,  in  a  foot-path,  to  Piatt  Hall. 

"Mrs.  W.  and  the  children  had  gone  to  town,  and  Mr.  W. 
was  just  then  drinking  tea.  He  was  very  glad  to  see  me,  and 
soon  some  cold  roast  beef  was  added  to  the  bread  and  butter, 
and  the  repast  was  plentiful  and  delicious. 

"  My  affairs  occupied  the  conversation,  attended  to  on  the 
part  of  Mr.  W.  with  an  interest  more  deep  and  affectionate 
than  you  can  conceive,  even  with  the  help  of  the  letters  of  his 
which  I  have  sent  you.  Perhaps  there  are  few  instances  of 
such  disinterested  friendship.  What  are  my  affairs  to  this 
man,  that  he  should  thus  trouble  himself  for  me?  He  has 
engaged  more  persons  in  my  cause  in  Manchester  and  Derby- 
shire than  my  most  sanguine  expectation  could  have  led  me 
to  fancy.  Were  I  to  attempt  to  particularize,  as  I  did  in  Lon- 
don, a  large  volume  might  be  filled  with  interesting  anecdotes. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  285 

"Now  to  whom  do  I  owe  this?  Not  to  myself.  Alas! 
what  a  feeble,  unworthy  and  inefficient  being  am  I,  to  have 
brought  about  so  many  things  like  miracles  !  God,  in  whose 
hands  are  the  hearts  of  all  men ;  God  alone,  who  orders  the 
unruly  wills  and  affections  of  men,  and  directs  the  ravens  to 
their  food;  He  it  is  who  hath  done  all  this,  to  make  his  peo- 
ple willing  in  the  day  of  his  power." 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

SECOND    VISIT    TO    MANCHESTER  —  LIVERPOOL DERBY LEEDS 

RETURNS    TO    MANCHESTER VISITS     SEVERAL    OTHER    PLACES 

EXTRAORDINARY    PROPOSITIONS MINUTE    OF    AGREEMENT. 

On  this,  his  second  visit  to  his  friend  near  Manchester,  the 
writer  spent  about  a  fortnight  with  great  satisfaction  to  him- 
self and  benefit  to  his  cause.  Every  day  seems,  by  his  letters 
to  his  family  and  friends  in  America,  to  have  been  occupied 
in  achieving  the  great  end  for  which  he  had  crossed  the  Atlan- 
tic. With  nearly  all  the  clergy  of  the  Church  in  Manchester 
he  became  acquainted,  and  from  them  received  tokens  of  great 
kindness  and  good-will  towards  his  cause. 

A  letter  from  his  first  and  fast  friend,  good  Lord  Gambier, 
reached  him  at  Piatt  Hall,  and  gave  him  great  encourage- 
ment. 

Mr.  Josiah  Pratt,  in  alluding  to  the  Appeal  in  behalf  of  the 
Diocese  of  Ohio,  which  he  was  then  distributing,  says  : 

"  You  will  find,  I  doubt  not,  Rt.  Rev.  sir,  that  as  God,  of 
his  goodness,  has  led  you  into  the  course  you  are  now  pursu- 
ing, you  will  have  great  reason  to  rejoice  in  the  end.  The 
great  point  of  duty  for  us  now  is  to  obtain,  in  the  most  unob- 
trusive way  in  our  power,  as  speedy  and  efficient  contribu- 
tions as  we  can." 

The  words  emphasized  were  at  the  time  considered  as  pecu- 
liarly consoling;  the  event  has  proved  them  prophetic— even 
at  this  moment  they  are  fulfilling.  If  the  end  means  the  time 
when  this  great  work  is  brought  forward  to  the  eye  of  the 


286  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

public,  with  a  view  to  show  the  wisdom  and  mercy  of  an 
Almighty  Providence  in  laying  a  foundation  of  learning  and 
religion  in  the  western  world,  in  this  "  end,"  when  he  is  old 
and  gray-headed,  he  has  indeed  reason  to  rejoice. 

The  writer's  record  of  his  visit  to  Liverpool  is,  like  the  time 
he  devoted  to  it,  short ;  but  short  as  it  is,  the  kindness  shown 
him  is  not  forgotten.  The  names  of  his  clerical  friends  are 
recorded  with  grateful  remembrances  :  and  among  those  of  the 
laity  is  that  of  Adam  Hodgson,  Esq.,  whose  continued  civili- 
ties he  will  never  forget. 

Dr.  Bell,  the  inventor  of  the  Mutual  Instruction  system,  was 
particularly  attentive  and  affectionate. 

He  attended  church  at  Everton,  where  the  good  Mr.  Bud- 
dicom  officiated. 

On  the  28th  of  January  he  returned  to  Manchester. 

In  Manchester,  under  date  of  the  30th  of  January,  the 
writer's  memorandum  is  this : — 

"  Yesterday  I  spent  most  usefully  and  agreeably.  My  dear 
and  best  of  friends  grows  warmer  and  warmer  in  his  affection 
for  my  cause,  and  already  has  interested  nearly  all  the  clergy 
of  Manchester  to  support  it.  Nothing  can  exceed  the  Chris- 
tian kindness  and  zeal  of  Mrs.  W.  I  go  to-day  to  Derbyshire, 
with  an  introduction  to  Mr.  Evans,  which  Mr.  P.  sent  me  by 
good  Lord  Gambier." 

"ALLESTREE,  JAN.   31,   1824. 

"  The  mansion-house  of  Mr.  Evans,  M.  P.,  is  about  two 
and  a  half  miles  from  Derby.  It  commands  one  of  the  most 
pleasant  views  in  England.  The  taste  of  all  you  see  is  entirely 
English^  —  grand,  yet  most  remarkable  for  its  comfort.  Mr. 
E.  had  gone  to  the  village,  but  Mrs.  E.  was  at  home.  Amidst 
profusion  of  wealth,  she  seems  meek  and  gentle  as  a  lamb. 
Her  reception  of  me  marked  her  urbanity  and  goodness,  being 
entirely  free  from  affectation. 

"  I  rejoiced  to  learn  that  she  had  been,  from  her  infancy, 
acquainted  with  Mrs.  Hannah  More.  She  told  me  many 
things  concerning  that  excellent  lady  which  I  never  knew 
before.     It  seems  that  Mrs.  More  has  been  to  a  greater  degree 


BISHOP   chase's    reminiscences.  287 

an  invalid  than  is  generally  believed.  Her  frequent  attacks 
of  sickness  of  long  continuance  have  always  been  most  afflict- 
ing ;  yet  amidst  all  her  ill  health,  Mrs.  E.  observed,  Mrs.  M. 
seldom  lost  her  resolution  and  fine  spirits.  Her  Ccelebs  was 
written  by  her  trembling  hand,  when  her  frail  body  was  in 
bed,  supported  by  pillows.  And  yet  how  excellent  is  that 
work !" 

"11   P.  M.,  JANUARY  31. 

"  Mr.  Evans  came  into  my  room,  and  in  the  most  affection- 
ate manner  introduced  himself ;  and  after  a  few  words  led  me 
down  to  his  company  awaiting  the  dinner — several  clergy- 
men as  well  as  lay  gentlemen.  Everything  was  conducted 
with  the  dignity,  urbanity  and  good  sense,  characteristic  of  the 
genuine  English  gentleman.  Prayers  were  not  omitted.  Ten 
servants,  dressed  with  neatness  and  propriety,  attended,  and 
seemed  to  enjoy  this  most  interesting  means  of  grace." 

"SUNDAY,  FEB.   1. 

"  Mr.  Evans  walked  with  me  to  his  chapel,  near  his  factory 
— very  full — sermon  good.  Intermission  spent  in  visiting  his 
numerous  Sunday  school,  conducted  in  great  order.  The 
afternoon  service  over,  the  Rev.  clergyman  accompanied  the 
family  home  to  dinner — much  Christian  conversation." 

"FEBRUARY  2. 

"  Coach  ready  at  half  past  eight.  Rev.  Mr.  S accompa- 
nied me  to  Derby ;  breakfasted  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Howard ; 
room  full  of  good  men  and  ministers ;  holy  Scriptures  read  and 
prayers.  The  Lord  I  trust  enabled  me  to  say  the  Church  col- 
lects with  faith,  after  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  H.  brought  his  five 
beautiful  children  for  the  Episcopal  blessing.  They  knelt,  and 
it  was  most  cordially  given.  Went  to  Ockbrook.  This  Mo- 
ravian school  is  a  few  miles  from  Derby.  The  road  thither  is 
through  a  most  beautiful  and  picturesque  country;  the  fields 
were  green  as  in  May,  and  all  around  exhibited  one  con- 
tinued scene  of  industry,  neatness,  and  comfort  —  modest 
churches  in  little  hamlets,  both  far  and  near,  till  the  eye  rested 
on  the  summit  of  a  distant  hill,  veiled  in  the  smoky  atmos- 
phere. 


288  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

" ' Here  is  Ockbrook,'  said  Mr.  S -,  '  and  here,  to  our 

right,  lives  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hay,  the  pious  clergyman  of  the 
Established  Church.  Yonder,  on  the  rising  ground  before  us, 
is  the  Moravian  village.  There  stands  the  chapel  between 
two  houses,  one  for  the  minister.  A  little  on  is  their  school- 
house,  and  a  little  further  on  is  the  house  of  Mr.  Montgomery, 
the  brother  of  the  poet,  and  all  around  are  their  gardens  and 
gravel- walks.5 

"  We  entered  the  gate  which  led  to  Mr.  Hay's.  The  path 
was  through  a  grave-yard :  the  tomb-stones,  commemorating 
the  piety  and  virtue  of  departed  Christians,  were  both  under 
your  feet  and  thick  all  around ;  and  yet  the  path  of  the  living, 
which  led  to  the  rector's  dwelling,  who  now  preaches  the 
tidings  of  great  joy  that  Christ  hath  enabled  us  to  triumph 
over  the  corruption  of  the  grave,  was  plain  and  easy  to  be 
followed  —  emblematical  of  the  simplicity  of  the  gospel  of 
Jesus.  The  parson  was  not  within,  but  his  lady,  a  true  sam- 
ple of  English  housewives,  a  help  meet  for  so  pious  a  minister, 
gave  us  a  hearty  welcome. 

"  We  went  to  the  Moravians.  The  path  again  wound 
through  the  grave-yard,  round  the  church,  and  then  through 
narrow  lanes  beset  with  hawthorn  hedges,  till  we  had  mounted 
up  to  the  desired  village.  Here  we  found  that  the  prospect  at 
a  distance  had  not  told  us  the  half  of  the  pleasing  realities  of 
neatness  and  comfort.  Nothing  could  exceed  the  kind  civilities 
of  these  worthy  people. 

"  When  we  returned  to  the  English  parsonage,  we  found  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Hay  ready  to  accompany  us  to  Derby.  The  clergy 
all  met  at  Mr.  Cox's.     At  this  meeting  all  was  kindness. 

"  The  prospects  of  success  to  my  errand  grow  more  and 
more  brilliant.  I  know  not  the  particulars,  all  the  donations 
being  out  of  my  sight,  and  sent  to  bankers  in  London." 

Letter  of  G.  W.  Marriott,  Esq.,  to  the  writer :  — 

u  Queen  Square,  January  26,  1824. 
"  Rt.  Rev,  and  Dear  Sir  :  — 

"  I  have  read  the  Appeal  in  behalf  of  the  Diocese  of  Ohio 
with  very  great  satisfaction  and  interest.     To  aid  your  cause 


bishop   chase's  reminiscences.  289 

is  to  aid  the  extension  of  that  kingdom  for  the  coming  of 
which  we  daily  pray ;  and,  till  we  cease  to  propagate  the  gos- 
pel altogether,  we  cannot  consistently  neglect  an  opportunity 
of  doing  it  on  so  pure  and  primitive  a  plan,  both  as  to  doctrine 
and  discipline,  as  that  now  presented  to  us  in  your  diocese. 

"I  have  great  pleasure  in  acquainting  you  that  Lord  Ken- 
yon  wishes  to  he  on  your  list  of  subscribers  for  the  sum  of 
twenty  pounds.  I  beg  to  offer  you  a  much  more  humble 
name,  and  the  sum  of  five  pounds. 

"  I  am  most  anxious  that  my  brother  should  not  be  disap- 
pointed as  to  seeing  you  at  his  rectory,  on  your  return  to 
town.  I  hope  you  have  not  lost  his  address,  but  I  give  it  to 
you  again :  ' Rev.  R.  Marriott,  Cotesbatch,  Lutterworth.'  There 
is  a  ready  conveyance  to  Lutterworth  from  Birmingham,  three 
days  in  each  week,  by  the  Cambridge  coach,  which  goes  from 
B.  on  Tuesdays,  Thursdays,  and  Saturdays ;  and  from  Leices- 
ter you  may  be  taken  to  my  brother's  door  by  the  Oxford 
coach.  You  will  make  him  very  happy  by  spending  a  few 
days  with  him;  and  his  vicinity  to  Wickliffe's  pulpit  and 
chair,  and  occupying  a  house  built  by  Edward  Wells,  the 
author  of  a  commentary  on  the  Old  and  New  Testaments,  and 
many  other  excellent  works,  strengthens  his  claim  to  your 
remembrance.  You  will  have  a  most  cordial  and  Christian 
welcome  from  him,  and  find  him  desirous  of  profiting  by  your 
conversation  and  example. 

"  I  also  hope  myself,  on  your  return  to  town,  again  to  have 
the  pleasure  of  your  society,  as  Dr.  Gaskin  does,  who  regret- 
ted very  much  his  inability  to  attend  upon  you  before  your 
departure  to  Manchester. 

"I  am,  Rt.  Rev.  and  dear  sir,  with  very  sincere  respect, 
your  faithful  friend  and  servant,  G.  W.  Marriott." 

About  the  same  time  the  writer  received  the  following  letter 
from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pratt :  — 

"  London,  Doughty  Street,  Jan.  30,  1824. 
M  Rt.  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir  :  — 

"I  should  have  replied  earlier  to  your  favor  of  the  17th 
inst.  had  I  not  waited  till  able  to  make  some  reports  to  you  of 

25 


290  BISHOP   chase's   reminiscences. 

the  progress  of  our  cause.  I  hope  to  send  off  by  to-morrow's 
coach  copies  of  the  British  Review  and  of  the  Christian  Ob- 
server. The  latter  publication,  you  will  be  gratified  to  hear, 
will  contain  the  substance  of  the  Appeal.  The  editor  is,  as 
you  know,  our  very  good  friend,  and  made  up  his  mind,  on  a 
view  of  the  whole  case,  to  insert  what  I  have  stated,  and  to 

apprise that,  if  he  should  consider  himself  entitled  to  call 

for  permission  to  make  any  counter  statement,  the  editor  would 
not  admit  such  counter  statement,  without  putting  in  your 
refutation  of  any  exclusive  claim  on  the  part  of  the  general 
seminary. 

"  I  hope,  however,  that  we  shall  not  be  called  on  to  proceed 
thus  far ;  but  a  better  channel  could  not  be  obtained  for  con- 
veying a  knowledge  of  the  whole  case,  both  to  England  and 
America,  than  the  Christian  Observer;  and  the  editor  is,  on 
conviction,  decidedly  and  warmly  your  friend.  These  publi- 
cations will  make  the  whole  case  very  generally  known ;  and 
I  think  that,  after  your  return  to  London,  it  may  be  a  matter 
of  consideration  whether  we  should  not  publicly  advertise  the 
case.  An  important  step,  however,  to  success  in  doing  this, 
will  be  as  many  names  of  contributors  as  we  can  procure. 
When  you  shall  think  it  desirable  to  return  to  London,  we 
will  put  together  all  the  names  which  may  have  been  col- 
lected, and  issue  a  new  edition  of  the  Appeal.  I  should  think 
that  after  the  middle  of  February  gentlemen  would  be  return- 
ing to  town. 

"  I  doubt  not,  my  dear  sir,  but  that  it  will  please  God  to 
hear  our  prayers  and  bless  our  endeavors,  so  that  you  will  be 
encouraged  and  enabled  to  enter,  under  His  favor,  on  the  great 
work  which  brought  you  to  our  land. 

"My  family  all  unite  in  very  respectful  and  affectionate 
regards  with,  Rt.  Rev.  sir,  your  very  faithful  servant, 

"  Josiah  Pratt." 

The  town  of  Derby  was  made  very  pleasant  to  the  writer, 
by  the  reception  and  many  Christian  civilities  of  Mr.  Cox,  and 
his  sister,  and  his  son  Henry.  By  these  also  he  was  made 
acquainted  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Knox  and  his  lady,  with  whom 
he  rode  to  Chesterfield. 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  291 

In  recording  this  lovely  ride,  under  date  of  Feb.  5th,  1824, 
the  writer  made  use  of  the  following  expressions,  addressed  to 
his  friends  in  America  :  —  "  The  more  I  travel  in  England,  the 
more  I  admire  it.  Everything  is  as  in  a  garden;  and  the 
fields,  while  they  are  clothed  in  verdure,  exhibit  the  most 
delightful  prospect  between  Derby  and  Chesterfield.  The  sun 
was  shining  yesterday,  the  air  was  mild  as  in  May,  and  the 
birds  were  singing  as  we  passed  rapidly  over  the  variegated 
country.  The  cottages  on  every  side,  up  on  hills  and  down 
in  valleys,  exhibited,  what  is  so  delightful,  an  union  of  neat- 
ness and  comfort.  Indeed,  if  I  were  to  fix  on  the  very  word 
which  should  distinguish  this  from  all  other  countries  in  eco- 
nomics, comfort  would  be  it." 

In  Chesterfield,  where  is  the  noble  church  with  a  crooked 
steeple,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hile,  the  rector,  treated  the  writer  with 
marked  civility,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Knox,  at  whose  house  the 
writer  slept,  was  no  less  kind.  Instead  of  giving  letters  of 
introduction,  the  vicar  himself  accompanied  the  writer  to 
Sheffield,  concerning  which  he  says:  —  "On  the  way  scarcely 
a  moment  was  lost  without  the  most  interesting  conversation 
about  Ohio  and  the  infant  seminary.  His  sagacious  mind,  as 
its  plan  was  laid  open,  could  easily  discover  its  necessity ;  its 
future  usefulness  was  foreseen  to  extend  commensurate  with 
time ;  and  thousands  and  thousands  of  future  generations  to 
drink  from  the  fountains  of  piety  and  learning  which  this 
institution  would  open  if  now  liberally  patronized.  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Vale  met  us  some  distance  from  his  house  in  Sheffield,  at 
a  corner,  whence,  having  been  advertised  of  our  coming,  he 
was  on  the  look-out.  When  we  arrived,  his  table  was  spread 
with  good  things  for  our  refreshment.  After  many  kind  words, 
we  went  to  see  the  Rev.  Mr.  Best.  To  him  the  subject  was 
new;  but  at  every  step  the  good  man  gave  his  willing  appro- 
bation. The  conversation  had  not  long  been  pursued  when 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Sutton,  the  vicar  of  Sheffield,  came  in.  He  has 
the  advowson  of  the  clergy  to  all  the  livings,  I  think  six,  in 
this  flourishing  town.  A  most  favorable  introduction  took 
place,  and  a  warm  approbation  of  my  plan  ensued." 

The  journal  thus  continues  :  — 


292  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

"february  7,  1824. 

"  To-day  Mr.  Yale  accompanied  me  to  the  vicar's,  and  with 
him  we  visited  the  parish  church.  It  is  built  after  the  Gothic 
style,  and  commands  the  delight  and  admiration  of  all  behold- 
ers. When  walking  through  the  mighty  dome,  with  the 
chancel  on  the  right,  the  body  of  the  church  on  the  left,  and 
the  massive  organ  over  our  heads,  (and  the  organist  was  then 
practising  a  grand  chorus,)  I  felt  as  I  did  when  visiting  the 
Falls  of  Niagara.  Silence  was  the  best  expression  of  the 
trembling  awe  which  pervaded  my  breast. 

"  The  vicar  left  us,  and  Mr.  Vale  and  myself  went  to  see  the 
poet  Montgomery.  With  what  deep  feeling  I  contemplated 
this  interesting  character,  you  may  judge  when  you  recollect 
the  high  opinion  I  entertain  of  his  '  World  Before  the  Flood.' 

"  This  evening  of  the  7th  was  spent  with  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Best,  at  his  house.  Mr.  V.  had  left  us.  After  tea  the  conver- 
sation turned  on  our  holy  religion,  and  the  means  of  promoting 
it,  especially  in  Ohio.  I  was  exceedingly  affected  by  the  kind- 
ness of  this  gentleman,  (the  Rev.  Thomas  Best,)  when  he  pre- 
sented me  with  some  valuable  books  for  the  library.  Among 
the  rest  was  Bagster's  English  and  Greek  Bible,  with  various 
readings,  very  well  bound,  gilt  and  lettered." 

"SUNDAY  NIGHT,  FEB.  8. 

"Dr.  Sutton,  the  vicar,  preached.  He  began  his  sermon 
thus :  '  Dr.  Priestly  has  said  that  if  the  Trinitarians  are  right, 
the  Unitarians  do  not  worship  the  true  God,  and  have  no  true 
religion ;  and  if  the  Unitarians  are  right,  the  Trinitarians  are 
idolaters.  With  these  sentiments,'  said  Dr.  Sutton,  'I  per- 
fectly agree,  and  join  issue.' 

"  The  congregation  on  this  occasion  was  the  largest  I  have 
seen  in  England.  The  tune,  l  Denmark,'  with  its  appropriate 
words,  was  sung  by  all  who  could  sing  in  this  immense  mul- 
titude, and  being  accompanied  by  the  very  powerful  organ 
mentioned  above,  the  effect  was  to  bring  us  in  imagination 
before  the  judgment  seat." 

"FEBRUARY  11. 

"  On  the  9th  I  took  coach,  and  came  forty  miles  to  Leeds, 
where  I  am  now  writing  this.     I  soon  became  acquainted 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  293 

with  the  excellent  Mr.  Reade,  Dr.  Hay,  and  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Walker.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Jackson  came  and  breakfasted  with 
me  at  Mr.  Reade' s,  soon  after  which  I  received  a  confidential 
letter  from  G.  W.  Marriott,  Esq.,  of  London,  treating  on  a 
subject  of  which  you  will  hear  more  by  and  bye." 

"FEBRUARY  12. 

"  About  six  last  evening  I  set  off  in  a  coach  to  go  to  Robert- 
town,  a  village  ten  miles  from  Leeds.  The  object  was  to 
deliver  a  letter  to  the  mother  of  the  deceased  wife  of  my  dear 
nephew,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Morse,  of  Ohio.  As  I  have  already 
observed,  the  weather  was,  even  for  England,  uncommonly 
mild  for  February ;  and  being  calm  and  the  window  open,  I 
could  enjoy  the  passing  scene  with  great  composure.  As  the 
shades  of  night  fell  around  me  in  my  quick  passage  through 
this  very  populous  country,  the  brilliant  spectacle  of  buildings 
many  stories  high,  with  every  window  illuminated  by  gas 
lights,  to  accommodate  and  cheer  the  thousands  at  work  in  the 
manufactories,  was  exceedingly  animating,  and  gave  rise  to 
expansive  thoughts.  You  may  recollect  that  the  manufacture 
of  cloth  in  all  its  stages,  and  of  all  kinds,  engages  almost  the 
sole  attention  of  the  vast  population  of  a  region  sixty  miles  in 
circumference. 

11  At  Robert- town,  Mrs.  Child,  the  lady  to  whom  the  letter 
was  directed,  received  me  most  kindly,  and  was  deeply  affected 
at  learning  that  I  had  married  my  nephew  to  her  daughter  but 
to  follow  her  to  her  grave.  They  were  united  in  Chillicothe, 
and  when  on  their  way  to  Steubenville,  their  home,  she  died 
in  Zanesville.  There  she  lies,  and  there  is  her  grave  await- 
ing the  command  to  give  up  its  dead.  How  these  and  a 
thousand  other  endearing  circumstances  affected  this  venera- 
ble mother,  I  need  not  relate." 

Returning  in  the  morning  to  Leeds,  the  writer  found  on  his 
table  two  letters  from  G.  W.  M.,  Esq.,  of  London,  the  sub- 
stance of  which  is  as  follows  :  — 

That  there  was  a  proposition  made  through  him  to  the 

Bishop  of  Ohio,  that  if  one  third  of  the  subscription  for  Ohio 

were  made  over  to  the  General  Theological  Seminary  in  New 

York,  there  might  be  a  proposition  made  to  plant  a  branch 

25* 


294  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

seminary  in  Ohio,  whose  statutes  should  be  framed  by  the 
trustees  of  the  General  Seminary,  and  that  the  said  branch 
should  be  subject  to  the  discipline  of  said  parent  body,  the 
General  Seminary. 

The  proposition,  the  substance  of  which  is  as  above,  ended 
with  these  words:  —  "If  these  terms  be  accepted,  the  Ohio 
seminary  will  not  meet  with  the  opposition  in  the  American 
Church  at  large  which  it  might  otherwise  have  to  encounter ; 
but,  on  the  contrary,  will  present  itself  with  claims  to  counte- 
nance, and  the  Bishop  of  Ohio  will  have  the  satisfaction  of 
accomplishing  his  object  without  any  of  the  unpleasant  feel- 
ings and  consequences  which  may  otherwise  result  from  it." 

It  is  obvious  that  no  answer  could  be  returned  to  this  with- 
out degradation,  and  tacitly  acknowledging  one's  self  a  fool. 
But  as  there  was,  in  the  communication  of  which  Mr.  Marriott 
was  the  medium,  much  said  touching  an  ardent  desire  to  avoid 
schism  and  to  pursue  healing  measures,  an  answer  was  framed 
so  as  to  manifest  a  corresponding  wish  on  the  part  of  the  writer, 
and  yet  avoid  all  reference  to  the  very  exceptionable  proposi- 
tion mentioned.     The  answer  is  as  follows  :  — 

"  Leeds.  February  12,  1824. 
"Very  Dear  Sir:  — 

"  Your  favor  of  the  10th  inst.  was  duly  received  by  this 
day's  post,  in  answer  to  which,  I  beg  leave  first  to  express  my 
most  sincere  thanks  for  your  kind  solicitude  in  behalf  of  the 
American  Episcopal  Church.  Most  devoutly  do  I  pray  her 
Divine  Head,  our  Common  Saviour,  ever  to  have  both  your- 
self and  lovely  family  in  His  most  holy  keeping. 

"  In  the  sentiment,  which  you  state  as  the  main  object  of 

,  viz.,  the  preservation  of  unity,  and  the  prevention  of 

schism  and  disunion,  at  present  and  in  future,  in  the  American 
Church,  I  most  cordially  agree.  To  promote  this  object,  the 
most  important  to  her  welfare,  I  humbly  trust,  ever  has  been, 
is  now,  and  ever  will  be,  the  undeviating  endeavor  of  my  life. 
And  in  reference  to  the  seminary  which  God  has,  I  humbly 
conceive,  put  it  in  the  hearts  of  his  faithful  people  to  found 
for  the  education  of  young  men  for  the  ministry  in  Ohio,  I  am 
happy  to  assure  you,  this  great  object  has  been  most  effectually 
provided  for. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  295 

"  In  an  instrument,  now  in  the  hands  of  a  person  of  great 
confidence  in  this  kingdom,  drawn  up,  in  November  last,  as 
the  groundwork  of  all  proceedings  and  donations,  it  is  made 
a  proviso,  that  the  said  seminary  be  forever  under  the  govern- 
ment of  the  Bishop,  clergy,  and  convention  of  the  diocese  of 
Ohio,  and  that  they  and  all  its  officers  be  in  communion  with 
the  '  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  as  it  respects  both  doctrine  and  discipline,  as  set 
forth  by  her  liturgy,  articles  and  canons.' 

"  To  secure  this  great  object,  an  article  will  be  inserted  in 
the  act  incorporating  the  seminary,  to  be  obtained  of  the  civil 
government  of  Ohio,  specifically  to  that  end ;  and  to  secure 
the  insertion  of  such  article,  its  insertion  is  made  an  indispen- 
sable condition  on  which  my  estate  will  become  the  property 
of  the  said  seminary;  and  finally,  to  secure  the  whole — both 
the  insertion  of  the  said  article  in  the  said  act,  and  the  legal 
completion  of  the  gift  of  my  estate  to  the  said  seminary  — it  is 
expressed  in  the  aforesaid  instrument,  that  no  moneys  col- 
lected in  England  will  be  sent  to  America,  until  the  Hon. 
Henry  Clay,  of  Kentucky,  speaker  of  the  House  of  Represen- 
tatives in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  or,  in  case  of  his 
failure  by  death  or  otherwise,  his  excellency  the  Governor  for 
the  time  being  of  the  state  of  Ohio,  shall  have  signified  to  the 
Rt.  Hon.  Lord  Gambier,*  or  to  Mr.  Hoare,  the  treasurer  of 
the  fund,  that  these  provisions  have  been  fulfilled  in  good 
faith. 

"  Moreover,  to  secure  the  perpetual  fulfilment  of  the  spirit 
of  the  proviso,  the  House  of  Bishops  are  to  be  acknowledged 
as  a  committee  of  the  existing  incorporated  body  of  the  Gen- 
eral Theological  Seminary,  and  to  have  power,  on  evidence 
that  the  conditions  are  not  fulfilled,  to  act,  by  a  majority  of 
voices,  in  applying  to  the  judicial  authority  for  writs  of  injunc- 
tion, till  all  evils,  against  which  provision  is  made  in  the  act, 
shall  have  been  to  their  satisfaction  removed. 

"And  now,  much  respected  and  very  deal  Mr.  Marriott,  I 
cannot  but  reiterate  expressions  (I  wish  they  were  more  ade- 
quate) of  the  pleasure  it  gives  me  to  make  (his  statement  of 
what  has  been — even  from  the  beginning — doing,  and  now 

♦At  this  time  Lord  Konyon  ami  Dr.  Gaskiu  were  not  added  to  the  trust. 


296  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

already  done,  on  this  important  subject ;  especially  as  the  plan 
hitherto  pursued  comes  up  in  all  its  features  to  that  unto 

which,  as  you  assure  me, gave  his  assent.     Would  that, 

before  publishing  his  '  Notices,'  and  suffering  the  article  in  the 
British  Critic  to  appear,  he  had  condescended  to  see  me  in 
London,  and  in  peace  to  become  acquainted  with  the  correct- 
ness of  my  views.  As  it  is,  I  trust  he  will  be  perfectly  satis- 
fied, and  join  his  good  wishes  to  those  of  all  who  have 
examined  the  case  with  impartiality,  for  the  prosperity  of  our 
infant  and  well-guarded  seminary  of  Ohio.  Should  he  desire 
it,  what  is  past,  (though,  while  passing,  so  agonizing  to  my 
feelings,)  shall  be  forgiven — yea,  all  is  forgiven.  Most  sin- 
cerely do  I  pray  the  good  God  to  bless  him  and  prosper  his 
very  useful  ministry ;  and  if,  in  the  whole  course  of  my  life,  I 
have  offended  him,  I  entreat  you  in  my  name  to  beg  his  for- 
giveness. 

"All  other  things  mentioned  in  your  good  letter  being  con- 
sidered inadmissible,  or  merged  in  the  settlement  of  the  great 
matter  as  above,  I  need  not  apologize  for  passing  them  over  in 
silence. 

"  With  sincere  prayers  for  the  good  of  Jerusalem,  Zion,  the 
holy  Church  of  Christ,  and  for  the  temporal  and  eternal  hap- 
piness of  yourself  and  dear  family  in  particular,  I  am,  very 
dear  sir,  your  faithful  and  humble  friend  and  servant, 

"  Philander  Chase. 

"P.  S.  Should  you  wish  to  extend  your  kind  inquiries 
concerning  the  relative  situation  of  our  American  Churches, 
you  perhaps  will  be  gratified  by  perusing  an  article  in  the 
British  Review,  treating  professedly  on  that  subject. 

"P.  0." 

The  above  letter  to  Mr.  Marriott  was  forwarded  the  same 
day  it  was  written.  On  the  next  day,  viz.,  the  13th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1824,  the  writer  addressed  a  letter  to  his  friend  in  Man- 
chester, giving  him  a  full  account  of  the  proposition  made 
through  G.  W.  Marriott,  that  one  third  of  the  subscriptions  for 
Ohio  should  be  surrendered  to  the  General  Seminary  in  New 
York,  before  he  might  expect  a  seminary  in  Ohio.     To  this 


bishop   chase's  reminiscences.  297 

letter  his  friend  wrote  an  answer,  under  date  of  the  17th  of 
Feb.,  from  which  the  following  are  extracts  :  — 

"Manchester,  Feb.  17,  1824. 

"My  Dear  Friend:  — 

"  Your  favor  of  the  13th  was  received  on  Sunday.  A  letter 
for  you  from  Mr.  Hayden,  prepared  me  to  expect  that  some 
singular  propositions  would  he  made  to  you,  but  they  are  of  a 
more  extraordinary  character  than  I  expected.  I  think  you 
did  not  find  much  difficulty  in  answering  them.  I  fancy  I  see 
in  your  reply  a  conciliatory  spirit,  strong  evidence  of  a  dispo- 
sition to  be  on  friendly  terms  with ,  and  an  earnest  desire 

to  preserve  the  harmony  and  unity  of  the  Church,  and  a  fixed 
determination  to  pursue  such  measures  as  would  tend  to  the 
extension  and  utility  of  it.  Such  motives  have  guided  you 
hitherto,  and  no  change  can  be  expected  till  you  are  convinced 
of  some  errors.  If  your  friends  can  convince  you  that  you 
have  acted  wrong  and  can  furnish  you  with  an  improved 
plan,  you  are  open  to  conviction,  and  will  no  doubt  receive 
their  communications,  and  give  them  to  the  committee  who 
have  undertaken  to  manage  your  cause  in  London. 

"  The  offer  of to  use  his  influence  to  get  you  a  branch 

school  may  have  been  made  with  a  friendly  feeling,  but  I  fear 
his  influence  would  be  unavailing  while  the  wants  of  his  own 
diocese  are  so  great  as  he  represents  them.  I  think  his  propo- 
sal to  divide  the  subscription  cannot  be  acceded  to ;  for  those 
made  here  were  made  for  the  support  of  a  theological  school 
in  Ohio,  and  I  have  no  right  to  give  them  to  the  New  York 
seminary.  If  Mr.  Marriott  and  other  friends  should  wish 
your  school  to  be  a  branch,  I  trust  you  will  not  object  to  it, 
provided  the  Bishop  of  Ohio  for  the  time  being  should  have 
the  entire  management  of  it,  subject  to  the  control  of  the  Bish- 
ops of  the  United  States  only;  but  in  that  case,  all  the  funds 
raised  here  for  Ohio  must  go  to  the  support  of  that  school.  If 
any  gentleman  should  be  willing  to  aid  both  institutions,  a 
division  of  such  subscriptions  might  be  made  as  the  donors 
might  direct.     *     *     * 

"  Lord  Kenyon's  subscription  has  had  a  good  influence 
here.     *     *     *     I  understand  Mr.  J is  using  his  inilu- 


298  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

ence  against  me.  He  says  he  has  received  a  letter  from 
London  which  disapproves  ,  but  he  says  it  is  anony- 
mous. 

"  I  have  only  to  add  my  best  wishes  to  you  and  the  cause, 
and  remain  sincerely  yours,  T.  W." 

The  following  are  extracts  from  the  writer's  memoranda 
while  in  York,  Hull  and  Beverly :  — 

"  York. — The  venerable  Wm.  Grey,  Esq.  has  approved  of 
the  Ohio  cause,  and  said  he  would  do  all  in  his  power  to  pro- 
mote it,  and  to  that  end  would  fix  my  residence  at  his  son's 
house,  where  I  am  now,  and  invite  the  clergy  and  friends  to 
come  and  see  me.  Last  evening  the  drawing-room  was  full. 
Yesterday  at  dinner,  and  to-day  at  breakfast,  much  com- 
pany. 

"  Before  dinner  yesterday,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dallin,  canon  of 
York  minster,  accompanied  me  to  see  the  Rev.  Mr.  Richard- 
son, of  the  same  cathedral. 

"  To-day  (Feb.  17)  received  a  letter  from  the  Rev.   Mr. 

Pratt,  of  London,  who  has  had  a  long  interview  with . 

Wonderful  events  may  be  expected." 

[The  reader  should  here  be  informed  that  the  letter  ad- 
dressed to  G.  W.  Marriott,  Esq.,  dated  at  Leeds,  Feb.  12th, 
had  been  sent  open  to  Mr.  Pratt,  for  his  inspection,  with 
directions  to  seal  and  deliver  it.  It  was  of  signal  use  to 
him  in  treating  with  the  opposition.  Of  this,  more  here- 
after.] 

"Went  to  see  the  minster,  alias  the  great  York  cathedral. 
It  is  inferior  but  to  one  other  in  the  world.  Visited  the  tower 
(Clifford)  and  York  prison,  both  worth  seeing.  At  half  past 
four,  Messrs.  Richardson  and  Dallin  joined  us.  Dined  at  Mr. 
Thorpe's  —  a  large  company  of  gentlemen  and  ladies  ; — the 
Greys,  the  Grahams,  and  the  Russells,  &c.  &c.  Mr.  Dallin 
has  subscribed  fifty  pounds  I  God  be  thanked  for  such  en- 
couragement. 

"Took  the  coach  for  Hull;  stopped  at  Mr.  Terry's,  two 
miles  short  of  the  town,  at  half  past  two  o'clock. 

"Hull.  —  Nothing  can  exceed  the  kindness  shown  me  here. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  299 

Rev.  Messrs.  Scott,  Dykes  and  King,  and  the  vicar,  Mr. 
Brumsby,  all  most  active  in  my  behalf. 

"  Saturday,  dined  with  Mr.  Terry.  Sunday,  three  times  at 
Church ;  Mr.  Dykes  is  heart-searching  in  his  sermon.  Mon- 
day morning,  breakfasted  at  Mr.  Lee's ;  large  company ;  con- 
tinued conversation  on  most  interesting  subjects  till  one  P.  M. 
Tuesday,  dined  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dykes.  Wednesday,  with 
Mr.  Dickenson  ;  many  present.  Thursday,  at  Mr.  Bodley's ; 
two  British  officers,  many  clergymen  and  ladies,  were  of  the 
party. 

"  Kingston  on  Hull  (I  think  this  is  the  right  name)  is  pre- 
eminent in  Christian  civilities,  and,  as  I  learnt,  will  prove 
herself  munificent  to  my  cause. 

"  In  returning  to  York  I  called  at  Beverly,  where  there  is  a 
splendid  minster.  There  is  a  family  of  Washingtons  in  this 
neighborhood,  who  claim  to  be  related  to  his  excellency  Geo. 
Washington,  father  of  the  American  republic.  Mr.  Richards, 
master  of  the  grammar-school  in  this  place,  is  a  learned  and 
good  man.     St.  Mary's  church,  of  Beverly,  has  few  superiors. 

"  I  saw  Mr.  Mark  Robinson  in  Hull,  having  preceded  me  to 
Beverly ;  he  was  particularly  civil  and  kind.  At  eight  I 
arrived  at  York.  Young  Wm.  Gray  (brother  to  Margaret, 
whom,  for  her  excellent  qualities,  I  should  have  mentioned 
before)  was  waiting  at  the  coach-office  to  welcome  me  back, 
and  to  give  me  notice  where  many  were  assembled  to  hear  of 
my  'good  luck'  in  Hull.  The  evening  was  passed  most 
agreeably. 

"  Mr.  Dallin  and  Mr.  Gray  had  done  wonders.  Mr.  Thorpe 
gave  some  valuable  books  to  the  library,  as  did  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Richardson,  who  said  he  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  Ohio 
cause.  Mr.  Graham  also  was  exceedingly  active  and  oblig- 
ing. Mr.  Dallin  was  with  me  at  Mr.  T.  Gray's  when  I  took 
leave  of  the  dear  ones  at  York  and  set  oil'  for  Leeds,  where, 
after  a  swift  ride,  I  was  welcomed  by  good  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Reade." 

In  the  above  imperfect  record  of  the  main  events  in  the 
writer's  short  but  very  pleasing  tour  to  York  and  Hull,  there 
is  mention  made  of  having  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Pratt,  of 


300  bishop    chase's    REMINISCENCES. 

London.  This  contained  another  proposition,  under  date  of 
the  21st  of  February,  stating  that  "ten  thousand  dollars 
should  be  secured  to  Ohio,  before  the  proposed  third,  for  the 
General  Seminary,  should  operate:"  and  in  that  case,  the 
"independence  of  the  Ohio  seminary  should  be  secured." 
The  foregoing  is  a  faithful  extract  from  the  letter  alluded  to. 
From  the  latter  clause  of  it  there  was  a  plain  inference  that 
Ohio  was  not  noxo  independent ;  that  its  seminary  stood  in 
need  of  something  to  secure  it ;  and  that  a  person  was  now  in 
England  who  could  afford  it  that  benefit.  Who  this  was  that 
had  assumed  this,  there  was  no  question. 

As  to  the  boon  being  held  out  of  "securing  ten  thousand 
dollars  to  Ohio,  before  the  proposed  third  for  the  General  Sem- 
inary should  operate,"  it  looked  like  tempting  the  citizens  to 
surrender  their  citadel,  with  gold  cribbed  from  their  own  city. 
The  matter  of  junction  was  of  no  consequence  in  the  scale;  it 
might  or  might  not  be  proper  to  join  in  the  appeal  to  British 
bounty.  But  to  offer  for  so  doing  that  which  did  not  belong 
to  the  contracting  party, — not  only  the  contributions  which 
had  been  collected  for  Ohio,  but  even  the  power  and  the  right 
to  say  when  the  independence  of  the  Ohio  seminary  was 
secure  and  when  not, — was  too  much. 

The  right  of  a  Bishop  to  collect  funds,  at  home  or  abroad, 
for  the  purpose  of  endowing  a  religious  seminary  in  commun- 
ion with  his  own  Church,  and  not  contravening  her  general 
laws,  was  a  right  so  sacred  as  to  admit  of  no  personal  debate. 
To  meet  the  person  who  should  question  this  right  to  his  face, 
he  clearly  foresaw  would  be  more  than  he  could  patiently 
bear;  and  having  reason  to  believe  that  such  propositions 
would  be  made,  he  sought  safety  in  distance,  and  long  lin- 
gered at  the  north.  But  the  above  extract  shows  that  the 
same  was  presented  through  another,  and  the  pain  which  it 
gave  was  inexpressible.  He  communicated  his  sentiments  on 
this  delicate  question  to  one  or  two  friends  at  York,  who 
engaged  to  write  to  Mr.  Pratt  to  be  on  his  guard.  Above  all, 
he  relied  on  the  sound  mind  of  his  first  and  fast  friend,  Lord 
Gambier,  and  wrote  him  the  following  letter  :  — 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  301 

"  Kingston  on  Hull,  Feb.  26,  1824. 
"  My  Lord  :  — 

"I  have  taken  the  liberty  of  requesting  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pratt 
to  lay  before  your  Lordship  the  subject  matter  of  certain  prop- 
ositions, made  at  the  desire  of ,  touching  a  division  of 

the  fund  now  raising  in  England  for  the  benefit  of  the  semi- 
nary in  Ohio  for  the  education  of  young  men  for  the  Christian 
ministry.  In  this  letter  I  beg  leave  to  apologize  for  the  trouble 
which  this  reference  may  impose,  and  to  entreat  that  your 
Lordship  will  attribute  the  liberty  I  have  taken  to  nothing  but 
a  reliance  on  your  accustomed  goodness,  and  the  great  desire 
I  have  to  be  guided  by  what  I  sincerely  believe  to  be  the  best 
counsel  I  can  have. 

"  Through  a  friend,  various  papers  and  letters  are  sent, 
with  a  view  that  they  may  meet  your  Lordship's  eye.  The 
last,  from  Mr.  Wiggin,  of  Manchester,  expresses  my  wishes. 
That  which  is  anonymous,  or  signed  only  with  initials,  was 
furnished  me  by  Wm.  Gray,  Esq.,  of  York,  a  person  who,  it 
is  believed,  enjoys  the  confidence  of  his  grace,  the  Archbishop 
of  York. 

"  The  kind  reception  and  encouragement  with  which  the 
cause  of  Ohio  is  favored  in  all  places  through  which  I  pass, 
demand  my  particular  and  most  fervent  gratitude  to  Him  who 
alone  can  bless  my  feeble  endeavors. 

"  If  the  Lord  will,  I  shall  be  at  Leeds  next  Sunday,  and, 
after  having  remained  there  about  a  week,  and  passed  a  few 
days  at  Halifax  and  Huddersfield,  I  shall  go  to  Manchester. 
At  any  of  those  places,  a  letter  from  your  Lordship  will  be 
gratefully  received  by  your  Lordship's  most  faithful  and 
humble  servant,  P.  Chase." 

answer. 
c<  tj        o;     .  " Iver  Grove,  March  4,  1S24. 

"  On  the  receipt  of  your  letter  from  Hull,  I  wrote  to  Mr. 
Pratt,  requesting  of  him  to  furnish  me  such  papers  as  he  may 
have  received  from  you,  in  addition  to  those  which  he  had 
brought   under  my  view  when  I  last  saw  him,  about  a  fort- 

niL'lii  back,  relative  to  the  proposition  of for  apportioning 

to  tbe  ('« neral  Theological  Seminary  a  part  of  the  money  we 

20 


302  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

are  collecting  for  the  Ohio  seminary ;  and  stated  my  doubts 
whether,  as  the  collection  is  made  for  this  specific  purpose,  we 
had  the  power  of  diverting  any  part  of  it  to  any  other.  I 
have  this  morning  the  pleasure  of  receiving  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Pratt,  in  which  he  informs  me,  by  enclosing  a  minute  of 

agreement  between  yourself  and ,  by  which  that  point  is 

satisfactorily  settled  ;  also  the  relation  between  the  theological 
seminary  of  Ohio  and  that  of  the  General  Theological  Semi- 
nary of  the  United  States,  by  the  former  becoming  a  branch 
of  the  latter ;  and  that  all  other  differences  are  happily  recon- 
ciled. 

"  I  am  very  happy  to  find  by  your  favor  that  you  have  met 
with  so  kind  a  reception  in  the  several  places  you  have  visited 
in  the  north  of  England.  I  trust  you  will  be  equally  well  re- 
ceived on  your  return  to  the  south.  If  you  should  be  disposed 
to  take  Oxford  in  your  way,  I  will  procure  some  introduction 
for  you  in  that  place. 

"I  remain,  dear  sir,  with  sincere  regard,  your  faithful,  hum- 
ble servant,  Gambier." 

A  letter  from  the  Rev.  Josiah  Pratt,  containing  anothe) 
minute  of  agreement,  more  favorable  than  the  former  ones :  — 

"London,  Feb.  28,  1824. 
"  Rt.  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir  :  — 

"  I  have  this  day  had  much  conference  with .     On  the 

other  leaf  is  a  minute  of  agreement,  in  which  you  will  find  all 
division  of  the  fund  relinquished,  and  such  points  proposed  as 
I  conceived,  from  the  letters  sent  to  me  from  Hull,  you  will 
readily  agree  to.  I  congratulate  you,  my  dear  sir,  and  thank 
God  that  we  have  been  able  to  bring  matters  to  so  favorable  a 
conclusion. 

"I  shall  hope  for  the  intimation  of  your  concurrence  by 
return  of  post,  as will  soon  leave  for  the  continent. 

"I  am  ever,  Rt.  Rev.  sir,  your  affectionate  and  faithful 
servant,  Josiah  Pratt. 

"minute  of  agreement. 

"  It  is  proposed  that  the  intended  theological  seminary,  for 
the  diocese  of  Ohio,  shall  be  a  branch  of  the  General  Theolog- 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  303 

ical  Seminary  of  the  Episcopal  Church  of  the  United  States, 
while  its  government,  according  to  regulations  to  be  drawn  up 
by  the  convention  of  Ohio,  conformably  to  the  constitution  and 
canons  of  the  said  Church,  shall  be  vested  in  the  convention 
of  Ohio ;  and  it  is  further  proposed,  that  the  House  of  Bishops, 
as  a  committee  of  the  General  Theological  Seminary,  shall 
have  a  visitatorial  power  over  the  said  seminary,  and  author- 
ized to  ascertain,  at  such  times  and  in  such  manner  as  they 
may  deem  expedient,  that  it  is  conducted  according  to  the  said 
regulations. 

"As  the  adoption  of  the  above  plan  must  depend  on  the  con- 
current consent  of  the  general  convention  of  the  American 
Episcopal  Church,  of  the  trustees  of  the  General  Theological 
Seminary,  and  of  the  convention  of  the  diocese  of  Ohio,  the 
wish  is  hereby  respectfully  expressed,  that  the  said  plan  may 
be  adopted  by  those  bodies,  as  tending  to  promote  the  har- 
mony and  efficiency  of  the  American  Episcopal  Church  ;  and 
it  is  further  hoped  that  it  will,  on  this  account,  meet  the  appro- 
bation of  all  its  friends,  and  that,  while  they  extend  their 
patronage  to  the  proposed  establishment  in  Ohio,  they  will  not 
be  unmindful,  at  some  future  period,  of  the  urgent  claims  of 
the  General  Theological  Seminary. 

"  The  friends  of  the  American  Episcopal  Church,  who  have 
opened  the  subscription  for  the  establishment  of  a  theological 

seminary  in  the  diocese  of  Ohio,  have  authority  from ,  of 

New  York,  and  Bishop  Chase,  of  Ohio,  to  state  that  they  both 
concur  in  the  plan  above  detailed." 

"LEEDS,  MARCH  4,   1824. 

11  Last  night  I  attended  St.  Paul's  church,  Leeds.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Jackson  preached  ;  subject,  the  temptation  of  Christ; 
an  excellent  sermon. 

"  Received  a  letter  from  my  excellent  acquaintance,  G.  W. 
Marriott:  very  friendly,  but  rather  mortified  that  my  letter  of 
the  12th  February  did  not  reach  him  in  due  time :  others  were 
allowed  to  'set  in  order  the  things  which  were  wanting.'  " 


304  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

HALIFAX BRADFORD HUDDERSFIELD PROPOSED     ' '  TREATY    OF 

PEACE    BETWEEN    THREE." 

So  short  was  the  time  allotted  for  the  writer's  visit  to  Hali- 
fax, Bradford  and  Huddersneld,  that  he  had  no  opportunity 
to  make  memoranda  necessary  to  give  an  adequate  idea  of 
the  kindness  shown  him  in  those  interesting  places.  The 
whole  country  is  hilly,  and  romantic,  and  thickly  popu- 
lated. Wealth,  comfort,  and  cheerfulness,  were  everywhere 
to  be  seen. 

At  Halifax  the  Rev.  S.  Knight  was  then  the  worthy  vicar, 
who,  with  his  lovely  daughters  and  excellent  son  in  orders, 
received  the  writer,  on  the  6th  of  March,  1824,  with  hospitality 
and  kindness. 

On  Sunday,  the  7th,  attended  a  crowded  church,  morning 
and  evening.  There  are  many  others  in  this  place.  On  the 
8th,  visited  friends,  and  in  the  evening  saw  much  company  at 
the  vicarage.     Good  Mr.  Mitchell  was  then  among  them. 

On  Tuesday,  the  9th,  went  in  company  with  the  vicar,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Knight,  in  a  post-chaise,  to  Bradford.  Here,  by  the 
introduction  of  the  vicar  of  Halifax,  the  writer  was  at  home. 
The  house  of  good  Mr.  Rand  was  head-quarters.  All  the 
members  of  his  family  seemed  the  best  of  the  earth.  At 
dinner  many  clergymen ;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Roberson,  of  excellent 
taste  in  church  architecture,  was  among  them;  much  conver- 
sation about  Ohio;  all  very  friendly.  At  five  o'clock  took  leave 
and  returned  to  Halifax. 

Took  tea  in  H.  at  Mr.  Shaw's,  the  surgeon  ;  most  agreea- 
ble ;  party  large.  The  Rev.  Messrs.  Shaw  and  Remington, 
of  Manchester,  were  present.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Wilkin,  the  vicar, 
and  his  family,  were  also  there.  On  Wednesday  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Knight,  the  vicar's  son,  went  a  part  of  the  way  to  Hudders- 
fleld ;  much  affected  at  his  kindness.  At  Huddersfleld,  Mr. 
Haigh's  friend  was  waiting  for  me  at  the  coach-office.  Was 
soon  joined  by  the  writer's  best  friend,  Mr.  W.,  of  Manchester. 
Soon  (half  mile)  at  Springwood,  the  lovely  residence  of  good 
Mr.  Haigh ;  here  all  was  glee,  and  joy,  and  comfort. 


BISHOP   chase's   reminiscences.  305 

Several  clergymen  and  others  were  present  at  dinner.  The 
body  was  refreshed,  and  the  mind  delighted  with  the  cheerful 
converse.  The  papers  from  the  panel  coach,  containing  the 
periodicals  and  other  new  publications,  were  thrown  on  the 
table.  Breaking  them  open,  from  Hatchard's,  Piccadilly, 
London,  out  dropped  an  anonymous  pamphlet,  whose  whole 
tendency  was  to  disparage  and  abuse  the  Bishop  of  Ohio  and 
his  seminary !  This  was  a  stroke  from  the  opposition  alto- 
gether unexpected,  and,  being  quite  off  his  guard,  the  effect, 
through  the  mind,  on  the  bodily  frame,  had  well-nigh  proved 
fatal. 

The  scene  of  leaving  a  table,  and  exchanging  social  conver- 
sation and  other  endearments  of  friends  for  the  pains  and 
gloom  of  a  sick  chamber,  is  not  very  easy  nor  pleasant  to  de- 
scribe. Good  Mr.  W.,  of  Manchester,  was  constantly  by  the 
bedside,  and  did  everything  and  said  everything  that  could 
alleviate  the  present  distress.  He  had  brought  some  letters 
with  him  from  Manchester,  forwarded  thither  for  some  time 
past.  Some  of  these  were  of  a  cheering  character;  others, 
from  America,  concerning  the  declining  health  and  almost 
certain  death  of  the  writer's  son,  in  South  Carolina.  These 
latter  were  of  singular  relief,  for  they  caused  him  to  shed  tears 
—  the  very  desideratum  for  his  present  relief.  On  the  12th 
the  writer  accompanied  his  good  friend,  Mr.  Wiggin,  in  a  post- 
chaise,  to  his  hospitable  dwelling  at  Piatt  Hall,  Manchester, 
where  all  was  joy  and  glee. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  letter  which  the  same  friend 
wrote,  while  attending  on  him  in  his  sick  chamber,  at  Mr. 
Haigh's,  near  Huddersfield  :  — 

"  Huddersfield,  March  12,  1824. 
11  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir  :  — 

"I  am  sorry  to  inform  you  that  our  friend,  Bishop  Chase, 
is  too  unwell  to-day  to  write  to  you,  but  I  hope  he  will  not  be 
confined  here  more  than  a  day  or  two.  I  received,  at  Man- 
chester, your  favor,  accompanying  the  Appeals  and  minute  of 
agreement,  which  Bishop  Chase  signed  in  my  presence,  leav- 
ing it  to  you  to  add  what  was  written  in  pencil,  and  I  return 
them  herewith. 

26* 


306  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

"The  Bishop  has  just  received  a  letter  respecting  his  son, 
who  went  to  Charleston  for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  which 
gives  a  very  unfavorable  account  of  it,  and  nearly  deprives 
him  of  all  hopes  of  his  recovery.  As  it  respects  his  son's 
Christian  state  of  mind,  Bishop  Chase  desires  me  to  quote  the 
following  passage  from  the  Rev.  Edward  Rutledge's  letter:  — 
1  If  it  please  God  to  call  him  away,  he  will,  I  trust,  go  in  the 
full  trust  and  confidence  in  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  which 
he  now  feels,  and  in  hopes  of  a  blessed  immortality.  His 
mind  is  as  strong  as  his  body  is  weak,  and  he  speaks  with  as 
much  calmness  of  what  he  esteems  his  approaching  destiny, 
as  men  ordinarily  do  of  lying  down  to  peaceful  sleep.' 

"  I  am  happy  to  inform  you  that  I  have  procured  further 
subscriptions  since  my  last  report,  but  do  not  expect  the 
amount  collected  in  Manchester  will  exceed  four  hundred 
pounds.  In  relation  to  the  minute  of  agreement  between  the 
two  Bishops,  it  is  our  joint  opinion  that  something  should 
be  done  to  remove  obstacles  to  success,  placed  in  our  way  by 

,  as  a  natural  result  from  'the  agreement.'     The  friends 

of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  America,  who  have  opened  sub- 
scriptions in  this  country  for  the  support  of  a  theological  sem- 
inary in  Ohio,  have  been  met  by  anonymous  publications,  and 
by  an  article  in  the  British  Critic  of  November  last,  of  a  char- 
acter highly  unfriendly  to  that  institution,  and  which  have 
prevented  donations  to  a  large  amount.  It  is  therefore  but 
justice  to  expect  that will  use  his  influence  with  the  edi- 
tors of  the  British  Critic  and  Christian  Remembrancer  (and  it 
is  respectfully  requested  that  you  will  prevail  on  the  editors 
of  the  Christian  Guardian,  Christian  Observer,  and  British 
Review)  to  publish  the  minute  of  agreement. 

"  I  am  happy  to  inform  you  that  appearances  in  this  quar- 
ter are  highly  favorable  to  the  cause.  Bishop  Chase  desires 
to  be  most  kindly  remembered  to  you  and  your  dear  family, 
and  I  remain,  dear  sir,  most  faithfully  yours, 

"  Timothy  Wiggin." 

"About  this  time  the  writer  received  the  following  letter 
from  his  good  friend,  Rev.  Mr.  Dallin :  — 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  307 

"York,  March  13,  1824. 
"  Rt.  Rev.  and  Very  Dear  Sir  :  — 

"  I  am  greatly  obliged  by  your  kind  reply  to  my  letter  of 
the  2d  inst,  communicating  to  me  such  information,  in  your 
possession,  as  bears  upon  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wheaton's  application 
for  assistance.  It  leaves  the  matter,  however,  as  your  letter 
intimates,  still  in  doubt  as  to  some,  points,  which  must  remain 
so,  probably,  for  the  present,  till  the  circumstances  of  the  case 
are  more  generally  known.  Every  judicious  endeavor  for  the 
increasing  efficiency  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of 
America  has  my  hearty  good  wishes  for  its  success,  and, 
according  as  God's  good  providence  may  afford  me  the  means, 
shall  have  my  assistance;  I  mean,  assistance  in  respect  to 
some  future  period. 

"  The  subscription  here  for  the  diocese  of  Ohio  is  going  on 
well ;  it  amounts  to  nearly  two  hundred  and  five  pounds  — 
only  a  few  shillings  short  of  that  sum.  This  is  probably  the 
amount  of  what  will  be  raised,  though  it  is  not  impossible  that 
a  few  pounds  more  may  be  added  to  it. 

"  I  have  great  pleasure  in  being  informed  of  the  success  of 
your   proceedings   in   the  different   places  which   you  visit. 
Respecting  the  assistance  I  have  had  it  in  my  power  to  render 
to  your  truly  Christian  and  pious  undertaking,  and  of  which 
you  are  pleased  to  express  yourself  with  so  much  feeling,  I 
assure  you  that  few  incidents  in  my  life  have  given  me  so 
much  real  satisfaction  of  mind  as  this  has  done.     I  think  my- 
self honored  by  it,  and  devoutly  pray  for  your  success.     Your 
visit  to  us,  and  the  interesting  communications  you  have  made, 
have  tended  to  cheer  and  exhilarate  my  mind  in  various  ways. 
"I  cannot  but  entertain  for  you  the  highest  respect,  rever- 
ence and  regard;  and  in  relation  to  the  intimation,  communi- 
cated at  the  close  of  your  letter,  that  constant  correspondence 
will  be  gratifying  to  you,  I  assure  you  that  I  shall  think  my- 
self much  honored,  and  shall  be  highly  gratified  by  the  meas- 
ure while  you  remain  in  this  country;  and  it"  aft. -r  your  return 
bpme,  your  numerous  engagements  should  leave  you  at   lib- 
erty to  communicate  any  interesting  occurrences  anions  you, 
mhiefa  it  may  appear  to  you   unadvisahle  to  insert  in  any  of 
your  periodical  publications,  I  shall  think  myself  under  great 


308  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

obligations  to  you,  and  will  always  reply  to  your  communi- 
cations, endeavoring  to  return  your  kindness  by  the  relation 
of  such  matters,  worthy  of  your  notice,  as  may  occur  among 
ourselves. 

"  I  remain,  with  sincere  respect  and  esteem,  yours  faithfully, 

"  James  Dallin." 

The  writer  to  Mr.  Wiggin,  his  Manchester  friend :  — 

"Derby,  March  20,  1824. 

"Very  Dear  Friend:  — 

"I  have  but  one  moment  just  before  breakfast  to  tell  you 
that  I  am  rather  better  in  my  health  than  when  I  left  Man- 
chester ;  that  I  came  on  the  same  night  as  far  as  Ashborne ; 
the  next  day  Mr.  Carr  took  me  out  in  his  gig  to  Parwich, 
where  I  spent  the  day.  Yesterday  we  returned  to  Ashborne 
again.  The  coach  having  passed  a  few  minutes,  a  gig  was 
hired,  and  got  me  on  to  this  place.  Thus  much  as  to  pre- 
lude. 

"What  think  you?  The  man,  of  all  men  in  England, 
whom  I  wished  just  now  to  see,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
last  night.  After  being  fatigued  in  court,  and  dining  out,  he 
came  to  Mr.  Cox's,  and  spent  from  half  past  nine  till  near 
midnight  with  me.     This  was  G.  W.  Marriott,  Esq.     He  told 

me  much  about  London  friends ;  how  the  interview  with 

was  brought  about ;  and  how  pleased  he  felt  at  the  happy  ter- 
mination of  the  unpleasant  opposition  to  the  Ohio  seminary, 
which  opposition  he  disapproved  of  from  the  beginning.  He 
told  me  that  Lord  Kenyon  and  Dr.  Gaskin  were  my  devoted 
friends,  even  from  the  glimpse  of  information  which  had 
reached  them ;  and  concluded  by  saying,  that  he  should  be  in 
town  in  about  a  fortnight,  and  then  and  ever  do  all  in  his 
power  to  assist  the  good  cause. 

"  I  have  promised  to  go  and  see  his  brother  in  Lutterworth, 
but  whether  to-day  or  the  beginning  of  the  coming  week,  I 
am  not  able  to  say.  Perhaps  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  close 
this  letter  till  the  time  of  my  departure  from  this  and  the  time 
of  my  remaining  at  Leicester  are  fixed. 

11  Eleven  o'clock. — In  continuation.  —  To-day  I  shall  go 
hence  to  Nottingham,  where  I  may  stay  till  Tuesday  next ; 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  309 

thence  I  go  to  Leicester,  and  thence  to  Lutterworth,  where,  on 
Friday  next,  I  am  to  meet  the  two  Messrs.  Marriotts. 

"  In  haste,  though  always  praying  that  God  may  bless  you 
and  your  dear  family,  I  am  your  faithful  friend  and  servant, 

"  Philander  Chase." 

"  The  following  are  the  writer's  notes  taken  at  Notting- 
ham:— 

"  Set  off  from  Derby.  Rode  in  Mr.  Cox's  gig  to  Ackbrook. 
Dined  with  good  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hay.  Thence  came  in  a  coach 
to  Nottingham.  Rev.  Mr.  Stuart,  and  his  curate,  and  Mr. 
Sykes,  all  kind  and  most  hospitable.  Sunday  at  Church. 
Archdeacon  Brown,  of  Ely,  came  to  see  me  on  Monday ;  had 
read  my  appeal ;  was  deeply  interested. 

"  At  three  on  Monday  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stuart  took  me  to  see 
the  castle,  a  place  famous  in  history.  It  was  here  King 
Charles  I.  raised  his  standard  to  put  down  the  usurper,  Oliver 
Cromwell.  A  noble  structure  it  is,  on  lofty  ground,  overlook- 
ing all  the  city  of  Nottingham  and  much  of  the  country.  It 
was  in  a  great  measure  destroyed,  after  the  king's  defeat,  by 
Oliver,  but  was  repaired  in  later  days,  and  ornamented  with 
King  Charles  on  horseback.  The  whole  now  belongs  to  the 
Duke  of  Newcastle.  The  canal,  the  river,  and  the  gardens, 
seen  from  the  south  of  this  noble  structure,  are  most  delightful 
to  the  eyes. 

"  From  viewing  this  magnificent  scene,  descended  to  the 
town.  Called  on  Dr.  Storer,  now  above  eighty  years  of  age, 
his  heart  still  warm  with  benevolence  for  his  fellow-man. 

"  On  the  23d  of  March,  in  the  evening,  was  a  meeting  to 
promote  the  cause  of  Ohio.  Have  dined  this  day  with  Arch- 
deacon Brown.  Few  people  in  England  seem  better  calcu- 
lated to  do  good.     To-day,  24th,  took  coach  for  Leicester." 

On  the  25th,  the  writer  addressed  the  following  letter  to  his 
wife :  — 

11  Leicester,  March  25,  1824. 

"  My  I  >i:  \  k  Wikk  :  — 

"  Yesterday  morning,  at  seven  o'clock,  I  sot  off  from  Not- 
tingham lor  this  place.     Calling  on  the  Rev.   Mr.  Mitchell, 


310  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

found  three  letters  addressed  to  me.  Soon  after,  the  writer  of 
one  of  the  letters  appeared  himself,  having  come  all  the  way 
from  London  to  see  me.  He  is  one  whom  you  know  I  highly 
esteem,  but  who  now,  driven  by  necessity  or  the  manoeu- 
vring policy  of  a  third  person,  advocates  a  new  and  most 
extraordinary  project ;  this  is  no  less  than  a  junction  of  New 
York,  Connecticut,  and  Ohio,  in  one  common  and  glorious 
effort  of  begging  money  from  the  English,  who,  from  their 
present  generosity  to  Ohio,  are  supposed  to  have  plenty  both 
for  rich  and  poor. 

"  The  name  of  the  plan  is,  '  A  Treaty  of  Peace  between 
Three.'  (Query :  What  one  of  the  three  has  ever  disturbed 
the  peace  or  made  war  ?)  It  is  to  be  a  '  United  Appeal '  of 
three,  instead  of  one ;  the  Appeal  of  one  is  to  be  called  in ! 
The  division  of  the  avails  of  this  project  of  settlement  of  all 
difficulties,  is  to  have  no  retrospective  effect.  (What  forbear- 
ance !)  Each  shall  take  an  equal  share  only  from  and  after 
the  precise  time  of  signing  and  sealing  of  this  treaty.  Of 
course,  should  there  be  $10,000  or  $12,000  now  given,  or 
ascertained  to  have  been  given  at  the  moment  of  the  date  of 
this  instrument,  it  will  be  freely  allowed  to  belong  to  Ohio. 
(Most  wonderful !)  My  answer  to  all  this  is  a  modest  nega- 
tive ;  and  I  here  record  my  reasons. 

"To  my  mind  the  whole  plan  is  disgraceful,  because  it 
seems  on  its  face  to  make  a  trade  of  a  cause  in  itself  benefi- 
cent. I  have  come  from  Ohio,  bearing  for  the  consideration 
of  the  benevolent  in  England  a  cause  of  necessity;  a  cause 
showing  the  deprivations  of  people  in  a  new  country,  filling 
up  with  emigrants  in  great  numbers,  from  British  dominions 
as  well  as  from  other  countries.  If  the  measure  proposed 
were  to  go  into  effect,  the  necessity  of  the  case  would  be 
merged.  ,  It  is  now  simple;  it  would  then  be  a  confused  cause. 
Mine  is  certainly  a  very  different  cause  from  theirs ;  and  as 
surely  as  they  are  put  together,  their  incongruity  will  prove 
mutually  destructive.  To  all  who  know  our  relative  condi- 
tions and  real  merits,  the  junction  of  our  causes  and  the  union 
of  our  claims  will  more  nearly  resemble  the  image  in  Nebu- 
chadnezzar's dream  than  a  measure  of  peace.     Who  will 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  311 

show  the  'gold,'  who  the  'brass,'  and  who  the  'clay,'  remains 
to  be  seen. 

"  It  is  urged  that  the  measure  of  a  junction  will  seem  to 
take  from  the  American  Church  that  disgrace  which  a  bare 
division  of  counsels  had  heaped  upon  her.  The  reply  is,  that 
such  is  the  known  frailty  of  human  nature,  that  differences  of 
sentiment,  especially  in  cases  of  importance,  must  be  expected. 
Disgrace  arises  in  suffering  that  difference  of  sentiment  to 
beget  in  us  evil  passions,  urging  us  to  dishonorable  and  un- 
christian actions.  If  any  such  actions  could  be  attributed  to 
me,  I  shall  beg  for  the  grace  of  repentance,  and  make  amends. 
But  if  found  innocent  in  this  particular,  I  do  not  see  the  pro- 
priety of  my  coming  into  a  measure  which,  in  its  very  nature 
of  a  '  settlement,1  implies  that  there  is  something  to  settle. 
There  is  nothing  of  this  sort  on  my  conscience.  How  it  is 
with  others,  let  those  judge  who  are  most  concerned. 

"With  a  design  of  taking  away  every  shadow  of  doubt 
that  the  Ohio  seminary  is  in  strict  accordance  with  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  whole  American  Church,  I  have,  at  the  request 
of  others,  signed  a  '  minute  of  agreement,'  to  have  the  institu- 
tion in  Ohio  called  a  branch  of  the  General  Seminary,  gov- 
erned by  all  the  Bishops :  and  I  see  no  need  of  setting  on  foot 
anything  new,  touching  this  matter.  If  'mine  opponent,'  who 
I  hear  has  not  yet  left  for  Italy,  and  with  whose  consent  this 
proposition  has  been  drawn  up,  sees  fit  to  draw  back  from 
that  '•minute  of  agreement1  and  by  this  new  scheme  of  mixing 
things  together  is  trying  to  make  others  appear  as  much  in 
fault  as  himself,  he  certainly  is  at  liberty  to  do  so,  though  for 
his  own  honor  the  thing  is  to  be  regretted. 

"A  door  was  opened  for  a  peaceful  retreat  from  this  scene 
of  contention,  in  which  he  had  hitherto  been  the  sole  belliger- 
ent; if  he  chooses  still  to  linger  on  the  field,  and  amuse  him- 
self in  witnessing  the  tears  of  our  mother  Church  in  America, 
there  is  no  way  to  prevent  it,  except  by  praying  to  God  to 
change  his  heart  and  dispose  him  to  better  counsels. 

•  Something  is  urged  by  the  friends  of  this  junction  of  the 
three  claims  in  one,  thai  the  gams  will  be  greater,  even  to  me, 
than  in  a  'separate  appeal/  as  at  present  conducted.  To  this 
I  honestly  answer,  'I  can't  help  it.'     Moreover,  it  is  a  consid- 


312  BtSHOP   chase's   reminiscences. 

eration  which  does  not  enter  my  mind.  I  did  not  come  all  the 
way  from  the  woods  of  Ohio  to  graduate  my  moral  proceed- 
ings by  a  system  of  tantums  or  quantwns.  The  Disposer  of 
events  may  give  me  more  or  less,  and  I  pray  for  contentment 
therewith. 

"As  from  the  first  I  have  been  determined  to  get  nothing  by 
contention,  though  it  were  in  a  righteous  cause,  even  so  now 
I  am  determined  never  to  mingle  the  limpid  stream  of  candor 
and  simplicity  with  the  muddy  waters  of  a  manoeuvring 
policy.  That  I  shall  be  justified  in  rejecting  this  proposition, 
for  the  reasons  assigned,  by  all  serious  and  judicious  persons, 
I  have  little  doubt. 

"  I  remain  your  ever  faithful  and  affectionate  husband, 

"P.  Chase." 

The  following  letters,  received  at  this  time,  will  sufficiently 
explain  themselves :  — 

"Leicester,  March  22,  1824. 
"Rt.  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir:  — 

"A  letter  from  a  very  primitive  and  apostolical  Scotch 
Bishop  having  been  intrusted  to  me,  in  which  allusion  is 
made  to  America,  I  had  it  copied  for  your  gratification.  It  is 
written  to  a  Mr.  Fyvie,  a  very  promising  Scotch  clergyman, 
who  has  lately  published  a  visitation  sermon,  a  copy  of  which 
I  hope  to  procure  for  you  before  your  return.  The  remark 
on  the  original  Hebrew  of  humble  and  happy  is,  as  far  as  I 
know,  itself  original.  I  say  Hebrew,  for  the  Greek  words 
are  very  different.  I  think  my  brother  has  seen  Mr.  Fyvie's 
sermon. 

"  You  left  Derby  without  claiming  the  book  you  intrusted 
to  me,  and  said  you  would  claim  at  my  lodgings,  where  I  left 
it  for  you  under  a  sealed  cover  when  I  went  into  court  on 
Saturday.  I  trust  that  you  went  on  that  day  to  my  good 
brother's,  as  I  heard  nothing  to  the  contrary,  and  there  1  live 
in  hope  of  delivering  your  book  to  your  own  hand  on  Friday 
next.  Do  not  forget  the  saint  of  Lutterworth.  You  supplied 
me  with  no  Appeals  at  Derby.  I  shall  be  glad  to  receive  a 
few  copies  at  Leicester  or  at  Cotesbatch. 

"I  do  not  know  whether  I  mentioned  that  Lord  Kenyon 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  313 

has  placed  in  my  hands  his  subscription  of  twenty  pounds  to 
your  fund.  This  sum,  with  five  pounds  from  my  very  lim- 
ited purse,  I  shall  be  happy  to  transfer  to  you  at  any  time.  I 
hope  my  brother  will  not  object  to  dining  at  six  on  Friday 
next,  and  that  his  clock  will  not  be  earlier  than  the  Leicester 
clocks.  On  those  conditions  I  trust  that  Mr.  Phillipps  and 
myself  may  dine  and  sleep  at  Cotesbatch.  But  he  will  not 
wait  more  than  a  few  minutes  for  us,  if  at  that  hour  we  do  not 
appear.  The  uncertainties  of  our  business  preclude  absolute 
promises. 

"  With  my  love  to  all  at  Cotesbatch,  I  am,  Rt.  Rev.  and 
dear  sir,  very  devotedly  yours,  G.  W.  Marriott." 

Letter  to  Mr.  Fyvie,  accompanying  the  foregoing:  — 

"  Fraserburgh,  Nov.  8,  1823. 
"My  Dear  Rev.  Brother:  — 

"Accept  my  affectionate  thanks  for  the  obliging  present  of 
your  sermon.  I  have  perused  it  with  much  and  great  satis- 
faction, both  as  it  is  yours,  whose  progress  in  clerical  accom- 
plishment affords  me,  you  will  believe,  peculiar  pleasure,  and 
as  it  is,  in  my  firm  estimation,  an  excellent  sermon  in  itself, 
very  well  adapted  to  the  solemn  occasion — in  language  clear 
and  sentiment  energetic,  tending  to  touch  the  heart.  Pray 
(iod  ever  impress  all  our  hearts  with  such  operative  senti- 
ments, and  keep  us  practically  mindful  of  that  awful  day, 
when  our  Lord  shall  call  us  to  give  an  account  of  our  stew- 
ardship !  Go  on,  my  dear  brother,  and  advance  with  accel- 
erated pace,  clothed  with  humility,  —  the  vocable  for  which  in 
the  original  is  remarkable,  importing  the  proper  livery  of  our 
Lord's  servants,  who  will  exalt  the  humble,  while  he  oppresses 
the  proud.  Humble  and  happy  are  correlates.  1  know  that 
you  will  not  misunderstand  me;  and  therefore,  were  we  sitting 
together,  I  would  whisper  in  your  ear  thai  1  never  say  my 
congregation,  my  ilock,  &c.,  although  it  be  commonly  used, 
and  means  no  arrogance;  but  I  do  think  the  idea  of  steward- 
ship and  trust  is  better  transfused  by  the  moving  language  ot 
the  ordinal,  which  you  frequently  read,  as  every  wise  clergy- 
man will,  —  '/Ae  congregation  of  Christ,  the  lloek  of  Christ,' 
&c. 

27 


314  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

"In  good  Mr.  Walker's,  I  lodged,  when  in  Edinburgh  in 
September  last,  with  Bishop  Tony,  and  your  worthy  dio- 
cesan. He  mentioning  his  desire  to  have  translated  into  the 
Gaelic  the  Companion  to  the  Altar,  so  called,  I  took  leave  to 
say,  that  it  was  a  thing  of  minor  importance,  being  good 
only  where  there  was  not  better,  as  there  are  many ;  and  for 
my  part,  I  would  give  Bishop  Wilson's  the  preference  by  many 
degrees;  but  that  surely  it  was  most  desirable  to  have  our 
own  communion  office,  as  it  is  universally  used  through  his 
wide  charge,  translated  into  that  language.  It  is  indeed 
already  so  rendered,  and  if  the  language  be  not  so  accurate  as 
may  be  wished,  it  may  be  improved  in  a  new  edition.  I  ear- 
nestly pray  you,  without  mentioning  me,  however,  to  impart 
this  to  your  brethren,  who  are  bound  by  our  canon  to  keep  it 
up  where  it  is  used.  And  it  is  humiliating  to  think  that  in 
the  south  it  has  been  so  tamely  abandoned.  It  is  a  continual 
comfort  to  me  to  think  that  it  is  the  form  of  consecration 
through  all  the  United  States  of  America ;  which  we  owe  to 
the  wonderful  prudence  and  application  of  our  memorably 
great  and  good  Bishop  Seabury. 

"I  beg  that  you  will  remember  in  your  prayers,  my  dear 
Rev.  sir,  your  affectionate  brother  and  servant, 

"Alexander  Jolly." 

The  following  letter  to  the  writer  is  from  his  esteemed 
Manchester  friend :  — 

"Manchester,  March  27,  1824. 
"  My  Dear  Friend  :  — 

"lam  just  favored  with  your  letter  from  Leicester,  and 
must  confess  I  am  surprised  at  the  new  offer  of  support,  in 
case  you  will  consent  to  make  a  division  of  the  subscriptions. 
I  am  not  aware  that  a  joint  appeal  would  have  a  favorable 
influence  with  the  friends  of  the  Church  in  America,  and  the 
union  contemplated  surely  cannot  be  necessary  to  preserve  its 
peace  and  harmony  in  either  country. 

"  I  have  made  some  inquiries  of  Americans  respecting  the 
state  of  the  Church  in  New  York  and  Connecticut  since  you 
left  me,  and  they  are  all  of  opinion  that  their  wants  do  not 
justify  an  application  to  the  Church  here  for  pecuniary  assist- 


BISHOP   chase's   reminiscences.  315 

ance.  I  do  not  hesitate  to  declare  that  to  be  my  opinion,  and, 
consequently,  I  think  a  joint  appeal  would  tend  to  diminish 
the  contributions.  You  will  decide  as  you  may  think  right, 
but  it  is  not  my  intention  to  give  up  anything  I  have  col- 
lected, except  for  Ohio ;  and  if  a  joint  appeal  should  be  made, 
I  shall,  from  conscientious  motives,  decline  taking  an  active 
part  in  procuring  contributions  for  the  future.  The  wants  of 
Ohio  must  be  relieved,  or  the  Church  will  in  all  probability 
be  extinct  there.  But  this  cannot  be  said  of  New  York  or 
Connecticut;  the  two  latter  are  able  to  take  care  of  them- 
selves. 

"I  am  glad  to  hear  the  prospects  are  good  at  Nottingham 
and  Leicester.  The  subscriptions  commenced  well  at  Hud- 
dersfield.  My  three  friends  there  began  with  ten  pounds  each, 
and  Mr.  Haigh  informed  me  that  the  prospect  was  favorable. 

"I  wrote  you  a  few  days  since,  (directed  to  you,  post-office, 
Leicester,)  and  informed  you  of  what  the  vicar  of  Halifax 
wrote,  and  of  an  invitation  from  the  vicar  of  Preston  for  you 
to  visit  him.  This  may  be  accepted  hereafter.  The  sub- 
scription in  Halifax  amounted  to  between  seventy  and  eighty 
pounds.  Mr.  Lodge  wrote  me  that  he  was  doing  all  he  could 
in  Liverpool,  and  that  Mr.  Dawson  had  collected  about  fifty 
pounds.  Your  cause  is  now  embarked  on  the  tide  of  pros- 
perity, and  success  will  attend  you  if  you  continue  your 
course;  but  if  you  stop  to  take  in  two  partners,  I  fear  the 

event.     I  hope  Mr.  Pratt  does  not  think  this  offer  of  

should  be  accepted,  as  an  endeavor  to  remove  the  obstacles  he 
placed  in  our  way  by  his  numerous  publications,  or  that  he  is 
not  bound  to  publish  the  substance  of  the  agreement  in  the 
British  Critic  and  Christian  Remembrancer.  It  is  my  desire 
that  the  agreement  entered  into  should  be  carried   into  effect, 

in  good  faith,  by  both  parties;  but  if should  be  opposed 

to  it,  you  can  go  on  and  prosper  as  you  have  hitherto  done. 

"I  shall  send  you  Mr.  Knight's  and  Mr.  Robenon'fl  letters 
in  ;•  parcel  when  I  have  occasion  to  send  one  to  London. 
Some  few  collections  are  making  here,  but  we  have  nearly 
don--.  We  are  all  as  usual  at  Piatt  Hall,  and  I  remain  most 
faithfully  yours,  T.  Wiggin." 


316  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

JOURNAL  CONTINUED THE  WRITER  RETURNS  TO  LONDON IS  INTRO- 
DUCED TO  LORD  KENYON FORMS  MANY  NEW  ACQUAINTANCES. 

The  writer's  record  of  pleasing  events  while  he  remained  a 
guest  of  the  Rev.  Robert  Marriott,  of  Cotesbatch,  near  Lutter- 
worth, is  too  full  for  entire  insertion  in  this  limited  work, 
From  it  only  a  few  incidents  will  be  selected. 

"MARCH  30. 

"Present  this  day  at  dinner  at  Mr.  Marriott's,  himself  and 
wife,  Miss  C.  Hetherington,  Messrs.  Wm.  Harper  and  Dicey, 
and  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Evans  and  Dr.  Pearson,  —  all  most 
agreeable,  and  deeply  interested  in  the  cause  of  Ohio." 

In  a  letter  to  his  wife  the  writer  observes  :  —  "  The  princi- 
ple of  receiving  no  contributions  in  hand,  but  referring  all  to 
the  bankers,  admits  of  many  advantages.  Conversation  is 
always  free,  friendly  and  respectful.  Donations  and  their 
amount  are  seldom  mentioned.  The  growth  of  personal  piety, 
and  the  spread  of  the  Christian  religion  throughout  the  world  ; 
the  wonderful  things  that  God  is  doing  to  unite  the  hearts  of 
men  in  piety  and  charity;  particularly  the  favorable  light  in 
which  the  primitive  regimen  of  the  Church  begins  to  be 
viewed,  as  governed  by  the  authority  once  committed  by 
Christ  unto  the  apostles,  and  handed  down  by  their  succes- 
sors to  the  end  of  the  world,  are,  with  a  thousand  things 
relating  to  the  Episcopal  Church  in  America,  the  frequent  and 
abiding  themes  of  conversation. 

"I  go  to-morrow  afternoon,  the  1st  of  April,  to  Rugby;  the 
next  day  to  London.' 


5J 


In  resuming  his  narrative,  from  the  time  passed  under  the 
hospitable  roof  of  the  Rev.  Robert  Marriott,  of  Cotesbatch,  the 
writer  finds  little  to  engage  the  attention  of  the  reader,  except 
the  extended  civilities  of  that  dear  gentleman  in  taking  him  in 
his  coach  to  Rugby,  and  introducing  him  to  the  excellent 
society  there.     At  the  house  of  Mrs.  H.  C.  Marriott  were 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  317 

assembled  at  dinner,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chambers,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Harris,  and  Robert  M.  Caldicott,  of  Brazen  Nose  College, 
Oxford.  The  full  flow  of  English  talk,  both  at  dinner,  at  tea, 
and  through  the  whole  evening,  is  still  fresh  in  memory. 

In  the  morning  of  the  2d  of  April,  the  Rev.  R.  Marriott  most 
obligingly  conveyed  the  writer  to  Dunchurch,  and  stayed  with 
him  at  the  inn  till  he  saw  him  in  the  mail  coach  for  London, 
in  which  he  was  safely  conveyed  to  Cripplegate,  and  thence 
in  a  hack  to  his  humble  lodgings,  No.  10  Featherstone  build- 
ings, Holborn.  Being  honored  almost  simultaneously  by  a 
visit  from  his  excellent  friends,  Mr.  G.  W.  Marriott  and  the 
Rev.  Josiah  Pratt,  they  became  acquainted  with  evident 
marks  of  mutual  pleasure.  This  event  formed  an  epoch  in 
the  writer's  history  of  no  small  importance.  From  them  he 
learned  that  his  opponent  had  gone  to  Rome. 

On  the  table  of  the  writer,  as  he  entered  his  room  in  Feath- 
erstone buildings,  was  a  letter  from  his  friend  in  Manchester, 
dated  the  29th  of  March.  The  contents  confirmed  his  opin- 
ion of  the  inexpediency,  inequality,  and  injustice  of  the  propo- 
sition made  for  a  joint  appeal.  His  words  are  these :  "  If  you 
were  to  accede  to  their  proposals,  your  cause  would  give  all 
the  influence  that  would  induce  contributions ;  and  I  suppose 
it  would  be  expected  that  you  and  your  friends  would  apply 
for  them.  What  inducements  do  they  hold  out?  It  looks  to 
me  like  a  proposal  of  copartnership  from  a  person  without 
capital  or  activity,  to  one  who  has  both.  Perhaps  the  har- 
mony and  unity  of  the  Church  may  be  looked  to.  But  m 
what  way,  it  may  be  asked,  have  your  proceedings  put  either 
in  jeopardy,  or  what  danger  can  be  apprehended  from  your 
plan?  I  say  none,  if  no  unjustifiable  means  should  be 
resorted  to,  to  oppose  them. 

"  I  presume  the  agreement  was  signed,  and  that is  not 

now  willing  to  remove  the  obstacles  to  our  success  as  publicly 
as  he  placed  them  in  our  way.  I  consider  the  last  proposal  as 
a  ruse  de  guerre,  to  get  rid  of  that  just  claim  which  we  have 
upon  him.     *     *     *      Mr.  Johnson,  of  this  place,  now  says, 

that  Mr.  X informed  him  that had  withdrawn  his 

opposition,  mid.  further,  that  he  always  thought  well  of  your 
cause.     I  am  anxious  to  know  what  success  you  have  met 

27* 


318  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

with  at  Bartlet's  Buildings,  and  how  the  subscriptions  have 
gone  on  in  London.  We  are  all  well  at  Piatt  Hall,  and 
remain  most  sincerely  yours,  T.  Wiggin." 

On  the  3d  of  April,  according  to  an  agreement  made  in  the 
country,  the  writer  dined  with  G.  W.  Marriott,  Esq.,  32 
Queen's  square,  London.  From  a  short  record  on  his  journal 
of  that  event,  there  appear  to  have  been  present  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
M.  and  two  sons;  the  Rev.  Mr.  Crawley,  of  Stow  Nine 
Churches;  and  Miss  Duff  Macfarlane,  to  whom  the  writer 
was  introduced  with  the  notice  that  she  was  the  daughter  of 
a  Bishop  in  Scotland.  This  lady  evidently  took  an  interest 
in  what  was  said  to  the  writer  in  allusion  to  his  diocese  of 
Ohio,  and  although  quite  silent  and  retired,  seemed  solicitous 
for  further  information.  Lord  Kenyon  was  not  present  at  this 
time,  as  had  been  anticipated  in  the  country,  but  was  expected 
on  the  morrow. 

On  the  whole,  this  visit  was  encouraging.  That  things 
were  yet  exceedingly  gloomy  in  London,  he  evidently  saw, 
both  from  conversation  and  what  was  published  against  him ; 
yet  in  the  bosom  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marriott  there  burned  a 
flame  evidently  of  pure  friendship,  and  this  might  illumine  his 
path  so  as  to  make  a  few  more  steps  towards  prosperity. 
Little  did  he  then  think  that  the  retiring  lady  from  Scotland 
would  be  a  chief  instrument  in  opening  the  door  to  such 
a  happy  event.  Appearances  are  not  the  surest  indexes  to 
truth. 

The  journal  thus  continues :  — 

"  SUNDAY  MORNING,  APRIL  4. 

"If  I  were  present  with  you  on  this  sacred  morning,  my 
feelings,  I  think,  would  prompt  me  to  talk  much  of  God,  and 
heaven,  and  of  our  dear  dying  Philander  going  thither.  Tears 
drop  fast  upon  my  breast  at  the  mention  of  his  loved  name ; 
yet  they  are  not  the  tears  of  infidelity,  despair,  or  complaint 
at  God's  dealings.  They  are  tears  of  conscious  weakness. 
Alas !  what  am  I,  after  all  the  cobwebs  of  earthly  felicity, 
which  a  deceitful  and  deceived  heart  has  been  framing,  are 
blown  away  by  the  breath  of  God !  A  stranger  and  a  pil- 
grim.    My  son  by  nature,  and  in  the  ministry  of  grace,  dying 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  310 

at  one  quarter  of  the  globe,  and  myself  a  pennyless  wanderer 
in  another ;  and  to  crown  all,  my  wife  and  my  beloved  babes 
deprived  of  all  earthly  support,  except  from  the  hand  of 
charity.  O,  blessed  Jesus !  who  hadst  not  where  to  lay  thine 
head,  and  didst  suffer  more  than  we  are  able  to  think,  for  us, 
may  thy  strength  be  manifested  in  our  weakness.  If  I  am 
now  a  wanderer,  thou  hast  prepared  for  me  a  home  at  last.  If 
I  am  assailed,  thou  art  an  almighty  Friend  to  support  and  save 
me.  If  I  am  sick,  thou  art  a  Physician,  and  hast  the  balm 
of  Gilead  to  pour  into  my  wounded  heart.  If  my  children 
drop  into  the  grave,  thou  art  the  Resurrection  and  the  Life. 
No  sooner  do  we  begin  to  despond,  but  thou  givest  us  reason 
to  hope,  and  our  tears  of  submission  to  thy  will  thou  dry  est 
up  on  the  bosom  of  thy  love." 

"SUNDAY  NIGHT,  APRIL  4. 

"Mr.  G.  W.  Marriott  called  this  morning,  and  we  both 
attended  the  church  in  Queen's  square,  built  by  the  excellent 
Robert  Nelson,  author  of  'The  Feasts  and  Fasts  of  the 
Church.'  We  received  the  sacrament  together,  and  attended 
both  morning  and  evening  service  in  this  holy  and  peaceful 
edifice,  after  which  Mr.  M.  invited  me  to  his  house,  not  far 
off.  Here  I  had  the  happiness  of  being  introduced  to  the  Rt. 
Hon.  Lord  Kenyon.  We  were  not  altogether  strangers,  for  the 
excellent  Mr.  Marriott  was  our  mutual  friend,  and  had  taken 
care  that  each  should  know  something  of  the  other. 

"  After  spending  the  evening  with  this  son  of  the  late  cele- 
brated chief  justice  of  England,  I  cannot  express  to  you  the 
high  opinion  I  have  of  him.  For  soundness  of  faith  as  a 
Christian,  for  correctness  and  strength  of  understanding  as  a 
man,  and  for  civility  and  suavity  of  manners  as  a  gentleman, 
I  have  seldom  seen  his  superior.  He  spoke  decidedly  in  favor 
of  the  principle  of  'living,  and  let  live,''  and  against  all  acts 
of  oppression.  The  conversation  at  dinner  and  at  tea  was 
almost  entirely  on  religious  subjects,  suited  to  the  day  and  its 
holy  duties." 

"APRIL  5. 

"I  have  just  time  to  note  down  a  few  events.  Breakfasted 
with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pratt  — family  all  glad  to  see  me.     At  ten, 


320  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

went  to  G.  W.  Marriott's.  With  him  called  on  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Crawley-)  then  at  his  daughter's;  then  on  the  family  of 
Edwards.  Came  to  my  lodgings.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Gaskin,  for 
many  years  the  secretary  of  the  Christian  Knowledge  Society, 
called  on  me,  and  we  had  much  conversation  on  American 
affairs.  On  leaving,  it  was  agreed  that  I  dine  with  him  on 
Thursday  next. 

"  Wrote  a  letter  to  Lord  Gambier,  [inserted  below.]  Drank 
tea  at  Mr.  Marriott's.  While  this  was  doing,  a  letter  was 
received  and  read,  in  answer  to  one  written  by  G.  W.  M.  to 
the  Bishop  of  Litchfield  and  Coventry.  His  Lordship  'had 
read  the  Appeal  with  much  interest,  and  would  be  glad  to 
see  the  Bishop  of  Ohio  at  breakfast  on  Thursday  morning.' 
Another  letter,  from  Lord  Kenyon,  was  read,  of  a  character 
most  encouraging. 

"  Speaking  of  the  providence  of  God,  which  had  guided  me 
in  the  most  trying  and  difficult  circumstances,  'I  see  now,' 
said  Mr.  Marriott,  '  that  all  things  were  for  the  best,  that  you 

should  not  see ,  for  reasons  now  evident.     God  so  ordered 

it  that  you  should  not;  for  the  very  day  in  which  you  came 
to  London,  about  six  hours  before  your  arrival,  without  any 
previous  correspondence,  he  left  it ;  thus  letting  him  take  his 
way,  and  to  pursue  yours  unmolested.'  " 

Letter  from  the  writer  to  his  fast  friend,  Lord  Gambier :  — 

No.  10  Featherstone  buildings,  ) 

April  5,  1824.  \ 

"  My  Lord  :  — 

"  I  take  the  earliest  opportunity  after  my  return  to  town,  to 
express  to  your  Lordship  the  deep  sense  of  gratitude  which  I 
feel,  for  the  overruling  hand  of  Divine  Providence,  in  the 
termination  of  the  unhappy  opposition  to  the  cause  which 
brought  me  to  England. 

"  Conscious  of  my  own  un worthiness  and  inability,  and 
thinking  it  my  duty  to  bear,  rather  than  retaliate,  evil,  I  com- 
plied with  the  advice  of  your  Lordship  and  my  other  friends, 
in  following  the  things  which  make  for  peace ;  and  now  my 
heart  overflows  with  gratitude  to  God,  to  you  and  to  them, 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 


321 


that  all  things  thus  far  have  turned  out  for  good.  No  fuel 
having  been  added,  the  flame  has  spent  its  fury.  The 
« Notices  '  the  reviews  in  the  British  Critic,  and,  above  all,  the 
late  anonymous  'Letter  to  a  Friend  about  Bishop  Chase,' 
having  had  their  run  throughout  the  kingdom,  have  spent 
their  force.  My  American  brother  has  gone  to  Rome ;  may 
the  good  God  protect  and  bless  him ! 

"Mr.  Pratt  is  now  preparing  an  advertisement  suited  to  the 
present  state  of  things.  Dr.  Gaskin  has  called  to  see  me,  and 
with  him,  if  it  please  God,  I  am  to  dine  next  Thursday. 
Lord  Kenyon  also  has  honored  me  with  an  interview,  and 
expresses  himself  in  the  kindest  manner  towards  the  cause  of 

Ohio. 

"  I  have  not  had  time  since  in  London  to  call  on  Mr.  Lvans, 
of  Allestree,  with  whom  your  Lordship's  letter  was  the  means 
of  making  me  acquainted  in  Derbyshire.  The  success  result- 
ing from  my  visit  to  the  north  of  England  is  considerable,  but 
of  this  your  Lordship  will  be  through  other  channels  more 

correctly  informed. 

« I  should  be  extremely  happy  to  hear  of  the  health  and 
happiness  of  yourself  and  family,  for  which  prayers  are  sin- 
cerely offered  by  your  Lordship's  humble  friend  and  faithful 

'  4  P.  Chase." 

servant, 

ANSWER. 

"Iver  Grove,  April  6,  1824. 

"  Dear  Sir  :  — 

"  I  am  happy  to  hear,  by  your  obliging  letter  of  yesterday, 
that  you  are  returned  from  your  successful  visit  to  the  north 
of  England,  and  also  that  the  tribulation  is  past  that  has  been 
occasioned  by  persons  who  were  not  friendly  to  your  good 
cause;  and  I  join  with  you  in  thanks  to  Him,  whose  faithful 
servant  you  are,  that  He  has  made  them  to  be  at  peace,  and  I 
hope,  in  brotherly  kindness,  also,  with  you. 

"  1  rejoice  to  find  that  more  friends  to  yourself,  and  to  the 
objects  of  your  pious  efforts,  have  been  given  to  yon.  Lord 
Kenyon  will  have  it  much  in  his  power  to  assist  you.  Dr. 
Gaskin,  likewise.  An  introduction  firom  him  to  the  vice- 
chancellor  of  Cambridge,  if  you  should  visit  that  university, 
will  be  of  powerful  aid  to  you;   and  you  will  not  be  without 


322  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

introduction  to  Mr.  Simeon,  both  from  Mr.  Pratt  and  myself. 
I  have  received  from  Mr.  Pratt  some  more  copies  of  the 
Appeal.  I  hope  there  will  very  shortly  be  a  list  of  the  sub- 
scribers added  to  it,  which  will  help  it  forward  very  much. 

"  I  remain,  dear  sir,  with  sincere  kind  regard,  your  humble 
servant  and  friend,  Gambier." 

According  to  the  above  letter,  addressed  to  Lord  Gambier, 
the  writer  pursued  the  humble  path  marked  out  to  him  by 
Divine  Providence.  He  knew  that  nearly  all  were  prejudiced 
against  him  in  London,  but  he  knew  also  that  God  was  able 
to  enlighten  their  minds,  and  to  turn  their  hearts.  A  few 
already  had  been  led  to  visit  him  at  his  humble  lodgings,  and 
inquire  for  him  in  his  absence.  This  might  lead  others  to  do 
the  same. 

Somewhere  in  the  first  week  in  April,  he  believes  it  was, 
that  he  saw  the  conjoint  appeal  to  the  British  public  for  dona- 
tions in  money  to  the  General  Theological  Seminary  in  New 
York  and  to  the  Episcopal  college  in  Connecticut. 

"THURSDAY,  APRIL  8,  1824. 

"  Breakfasted  with  Bishop  Rider  —  a  man  of  middle  size, 
neat  in  dress,  and  a  sweet  countenance ;  wife  quite  agreeable, 
and  a  family  of  twelve  children.  He  received  Mr.  Marriott 
and  myself  graciously  —  said  that  Lord  Bexley  had  read  the 
Appeal,  and  was  desirous  of  seeing  me.  Mr.  Marriott  pro- 
posed that  Bishop  R.  would  address  Lord  B.,  which  he  imme- 
diately did.  I  took  the  note  home  with  me,  and  wrote  to 
accompany  it  the  following :  —  '  The  Bishop  of  Ohio  having 
been,  by  the  Bishop  of  Litchfield  and  Coventry,  honored  with 
the  letter  enclosed,  presents  his  most  respectful  compliments 
to  Lord  Bexley,  and  begs  the  favor  of  a  note,  informing  him 
when  it  may  be  convenient  to  his  Lordship  to  grant  him  the 
honor  of  an  interview.' 

"From  Hereford  street  we  went  to  Grosvenor's  square, 
and  called  on  Lord  Calthrope,  well  known  to  Mr.  Marriott, 
who  gave  him  means  of  information  on  the  subject  of  Ohio. 
We  walked  then  to  Hatchard's,  in  Piccadilly,  where  we  met 
Dr.  Maddy,  one  of  the  clergymen  of  St.  James',  who  told  me 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  323 

his  wife  was  an  American,  born  at  Albany,  and  that  her 
father  was  Col.  Jessup,  intimate  with  Comwallis.  At  Hatch- 
ard's,  also,  I  was  introduced  by  Mr.  Marriott  to  the  Rev. 
Charles  Richards  Sumner,  canon  of  Windsor  and  domestic 
chaplain  to  the  king. 

"  We  then  walked  to  my  lodgings,  and  taking  a  lunch,  set 
off  in  a  coach,  and  at  a  quarter  before  three  arrived  at  Stoke 
Newington,  the  beautiful  and  peaceful  parsonage  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Gaskin,  whom  I  have  before  mentioned,  but  whom  I  can- 
not sufficiently  admire  and  love.  Learned,  judicious  and 
inflexibly  upright,  this  aged  and  venerable  servant  of  the 
Apostolic  Church  of  England  seemed  at  once  to  prove  himself 
to  me  a  father  and  a  friend.     He  honored  me  with  the  reading 

of  a  number  of  letters  and  papers  respecting and  X , 

and  from  the  part  he  had  taken  in  the  correspondence,  I  had 
the  clearest  evidence  of  the  wisdom,  and  uprightness,  and 
godly  sincerity  of  this  worthy  gentleman.  He  said  he  hoped 
my  visit  would  be  repeated,  and  desired  to  receive  some  of  the 
Ohio  Appeals.  We  took  tea  as  well  as  dined  with  him,  and 
at  eight  o'clock  we  put  ourselves  in  a  coach  for  Holborn. 

"The  Doctor  took  us  while  we  were  with  him  to  see  his 
Church,  which  is  venerable  and  neat,  but  small  for  so  great  a 
man.  He  mentioned  that  there  is  coming  out  a  book,  or  state- 
ment, proving  beyond  a  doubt  that  King  Charles  I.  is  indeed 
the  author  of  the  Ikon  Basilikee. 

"In  passing  through  Newington,  Mr.  M.  pointed  out  the 
residence  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  Watts.  We  passed,  in  the 
Kingsland  road,  a  place  of  burying,  where  was  an  epitaph 
known  by  Mr.  Marriott  by  heart,  as  follows :  — 


U  < 


TO  THE   MEMORY  OF   AGNES  BELL. 


"  'Reader,  to  tell  of  the  evil  that  dwelt  in  me,  would  not  profit  thee  ;  and  to 
speak  of  my  better  dispositions,  would  not  become  me.  But  let  this  stone  con- 
vey to  you  one  great  and  important  lesson  :  —  Drew  Digh  unt<>  (tod  and  he  will 
draw  nigh  unto  thee.  —  In  His  favor  is  life.  —  Well  grounded  hope  in  Him  on 
earth,  is  heaven  begun ;  and  those  only  are  truly  miserable  who  forsake  him.' 

"  If  I  might  express  my  feelings  concerning  the  events  of 
this  day,  they  would  be  those  of  unfeigned  gratitude  to  God, 
for  his  unmerited  yet  evident  providence  in  favor  of  the  cause 
which  brought  me  to  I  England. n 


324  bishop  chase's  reminiscences, 

"APRIL  9. 

11  Breakfasted  by  invitation  with  Mr.  J.  Thornton,  March- 
mont  street,  41  Russell  square.  The  joint  application  puzzles 
him.  He  demands  to  know  all  the  nature  and  minutiae  of  this 
business,  or  he  will  do  nothing.  What  can  I  do  1  I  sent  him 
to  Dr.  Gaskin,  but  he  is  not  acquainted  with  him. 

"  Received  the  following  letter  from  the  Rt.  Hon.  Lord 
Kenyon:  — 

"  l  Gredington,  April  7,  1824. 
"<Rt.  Rev.  Sir:  — 

"  l  My  excellent  friend,  G.  W,  Marriott,  says  you  would  be 
glad  to  hear  from  me.  I  cannot  but  feel  gratified  in  your 
having  such  a  wish,  and  feel  an  additional  pleasure  in  having 
systematically,  from  the  outset,  considered  your  application 
for  Ohio  deserving  of  the  support  of  our  Apostolical  Church, 
and  in  your  kind  acceptance  of  my  trifling  offering  of  twenty 
pounds  towards  its  encouragement.     Most  truly  do  I  wish 

you  the  fullest  success,  as  I  do  also  to  Mr.  W n,  and  his 

praiseworthy  object  for  Connecticut,  and  to  — ■ —  for  the  theo- 
logical seminary  at  New  York— an  object  of  importance  to 
the  Church  throughout  the  United  States. 

"  '  I  hope  to  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting  you  again  at  our 
good  friend's,  on  my  return  to  London,  and  of  seeing  you 
likewise  in  Portman  square ;  and  should  Wales  be  visited  by 
you,  should  be  pleased  to  receive,  for  the  first  time,  in  you, 
an  American  Bishop  at  the  abode  of  my  honored  father. 

"  '  Believe  me,  my  dear  sir,  with  high  respect,  your  obedi- 
ent, faithful  servant,  Kenyon.' 

"  In  addition  to  the  good  tidings  contained  in  the  above 
letter,  being  the  first  I  have  ever  received  from  this  nobleman, 
there  are  many  things  transpiring  in  the  country  very  favora- 
ble to  Ohio.  The  Rev.  Robert  Marriott  is  doing  much  for  the 
cause  in  Cotesbatch  and  neighborhood." 

"APRIL  n. 

"  Dined  yesterday  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Clark  at  the  Royal 
Military  Asylum 

"  To-day  received  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  in 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  325 

the  church  in  Queen's  square,  at  the  hands  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Martyn,  the  curate,  Mr.  Charles  Crawley  and  Mr.  Gibbs 
accompanied  me  to  St.  James'  church  in  the  afternoon.  Dr. 
Andrews  preached;  text — 'Let  him  be  crucified.'  The  ser- 
mon was  very  fine.  Came  to  Mr.  Marriott's,  and  after  dinner 
spoke  to  his  son  on  the  subject  of  confirmation.  After  tea 
Mrs.  M.  played  many  sacred  hymns." 

"APRIL  12,  1824. 

"Breakfasted  with  Wm.  Evans,  Esq.,  M.  P.,  No.  29  Nor- 
folk street,  Park  lane.  The  Rev.  Thomas  Hartwell  Home, 
the  author  of  the  article  which  brought  me  to  England,  came 
to  see  me  this  night.  Never  shall  I  forget  him.  Deeply 
learned  and  unfeignedly  pious,  he  holds  the  even  tenor  of  his 
way,  leaving  disputes  to  others  while  he  himself  is  sure  of  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.  He  told  me  more  of  what  is  doing  in 
America  since  I  left  it  than  I  have  learned  from  all  other 
quarters." 

"APRIL  13. 

"  Breakfasted  with  Mr.  Thornton.  Came  home,  and  he 
soon  followed  me,  and  insisted  on  knowing  the  whole  matter 
—  all  the  publications  relating  to  my  coming  to  England,  pro 
and  con.  He  addressed  me  as  follows :  — '  Sir,  when  I  read 
the  appeal  in  behalf  of  the  diocese  of  Ohio,  I  was  deeply 
interested.  Yet  as  I  had  heard  that  there  were  made  some 
objections,  I  asked  of  you  to  state  to  me  those  objections, 
believing  you  would  do  it  fairly,  so  that,  knowing  what  they 
were,  I  could  obviate  them  to  my  friends,  and  thus  serve 
your  cause.  You  observed  that  there  were  some  objections 
made,  but  they  had  been  recently  withdrawn.  This  might 
have  satisfied  some,  but  it  did  not  have  that  effect  on  me;  for 
it  occurred  to  me  that  the  same  might  be  Stated  concerning 
any  tiling,  the  objections  to  which  might  be  substantial)  though 
withdrawn  for  peace-sake.  I  thought  I  saw  evasion  in  this 
reply,  and  must  confess,  felt  my  respect  for  your  character 
somewhat  lowered;  yet  your  cause  was  so  Lr"<»d  in  its  nature 
as  to  have  made  a  deep  impression  on  my  heart,  and  my  con- 
science would  not  let  me  rest  till  I  had  done  something  in 
your  favor. 


326  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

"'I  had  learned  that  the  objections  to  your  measure  in 
coming  to  England  had  been  made  by  one  esteemed  and 
eminent  for  his  talents.  This  circumstance  heightened  my 
wish  to  know  of  what  nature  and  extent  they  were,  that, 
before  embarking  in  your  favor,  I  might  be  sure  of  sailing  in  a 
smooth  sea — that  of  truth  and  justice,  propriety  and  duty.  I 
therefore  frankly  told  you,  that  if  you  desired  me  as  a  friend 
and  helper*  in  your  cause,  by  exerting  myself  in  recommending 
it  to  others,  especially  those  who  are  more  enlightened,  and 
from  their  high  station  have  a  right  to  be  informed  in  all  par- 
ticulars, you  must  let  me  have  a  full  view  of  the  whole  sub- 
ject, and  keep  nothing  from  me.  When  you  observed  you  did 
not  fear  investigation  on  your  own  account,  but  on  that  of 
others,  and  that  with  a  view  to  smother  controversy,  in  which 
you  had  refused  to  enter,  I  thought  your  sentiments  might 
sound  well,  but  that,  from  the  very  nature  of  the  thing,  they 
must  militate  against  you.' 

"  The  result  of  this  is,  the  papers  and  pamphlets  are  now  in 
his  possession.     The  event  will  be  known." 


CHAPTER    XXIX, 

LETTER     OF     REV.      ROBERT     MARRIOTT INTERESTING     INTERVIEW 

WITH     THE     BISHOP     OF    ST.     DAVID'S REFLECTIONS  —  STATE     OF 

ENGLAND     ON     THE     SLAVERY     QUESTION THE     WRITER' S     SLAVE 

JACK    AGAIN     INTRODUCED     TO    THE    READER DEATH    OF    HIS     SON 

PHILANDER AN    OLD    LETTER    BROUGHT    TO    LIGHT. 

On  the  14th  of  April  the  writer  received  the  following  letter 
from  the  Rev.  Robert  Marriott,  rector  of  Cotesbatch ;  and  as  it 
takes  a  more  general  view  of  the  subject  and  of  the  results  of 
present  measures,  and  of  the  state  of  British  feeling,  it  is 
thought  the  nature  and  design  of  the  present  biography  require 
the  insertion  of  it  here.     It  follows :  — 

"  Cotesbatch,  April  13,  1824. 
"My  Dear  Friend:  — 

"  I  have  been  extremely   glad    to    hear  continued  good 

accounts  of  you  and  your  proceedings  ever  since  you  left  us, 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  327 

in  several  letters  from  my  brother  George ;  and  I  believe  I 
may  truly  say,  that  I  never  in  my  life  more  sincerely  rejoiced 
in  the  readiness  of  my  good  brother  in  the  art  of  letter  writing. 
You  are  seldom  or  never  out  of  my  thoughts.  I  see  so  much 
good  to  be  derived  to  this  country  and  to  yours  from  the 
Appeal,  that  I  have  no  doubt  whatever  of  the  hand  of  the 
Almighty  Projector  and  Disposer  of  events  being  in  the  work 
throughout;  first,  in  disposing  you  to  those  labors  which 
excited  the  writer  in  the  British  Critic,  and  next,  in  disposing 
him  to  write  in  the  feeling  way  he  did,  which  encouraged  you 
to  take  such  a  journey  to  this  country.  Humani  nihil  a  me 
alifjium,  should  be  the  feeling  of  every  Christian ;  and  I  verily 
believe  it  js  much  the  character  of  this  country.  But  we  are 
sadly  and  strangely  divided  in  our  notions  of  what  is  right, 
and  consequently  in  our  attachments.  But  as  I  said  before, 
the  Appeal  is  calculated  to  do  us  most  essential  good,  to 
enlarge  our  minds,  to  enlarge  our  hearts,  and  to  humble  us 
under  a  sense  of  the  great  blessings  we  have  so  long  enjoyed, 
and  the  little  right  sense  we  have  had  of  them. 

"  I  also  look  with  great  interest  to  you,  my  dear  sir,  as  a 
peace-maker,  and  that  upon  sound  ground.  Christianity  is 
the  only  sound  ground  of  peace  and  unity  amongst  men,  and 
no  one  can  go  to  work  as  a  promoter  of  peace  and  good- will 
amongst  men,  a  workman  fitted  for  his  work,  but  with  those 
views  of  the  nature  of  Christianity  and  of  the  Christian 
Church  which  you  have,  and  which  you  are  always  ready  to 
impart,  as  a  Bishop  ought  to  be.  My  dear  friend,  you  must 
never  again  be  downhearted.  God  has  given  you  a  great  and 
good  work  to  do,  and  he  is  with  you,  I  have  no  doubt.  The 
Appeal  must  be  printed,  and  reprinted,  again  and  again.  It 
gives  you  an  influence  wherever  you  go  amongst  us.  which  you 
are  turning  to  great  account.  By  your  own  honest  confessions 
we  are  deriving  all  this  good  principally,  under  God,  from  our 
Lr<»«»d  old  divines.  I  am  certain  that  the  good  you  do  is  incal- 
culable amongst  us;  so  much  so,  that  1  am  BUM  you  would 
have  reason  to  rejoice  and  he  glad  all  the  days  of  your  remain- 
ing Stay  upon  earth,  even  though  your  journey  was  quite  to 

tail  aa  to  the  immediate  object  of  it.    And  in  this  point  of  view 
very  great  l:<><h|  lias  been  and  may  yet  be  derived  from  the  ill 


328  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

usage  you  have  received ;  because  the  hearts  of  those  amongst 
whom  I  particularly  look  for  good  from  your  influence,  will 
be  the  more  engaged  in  your  favor.  '  All  these  things  are 
against  me  ! '  said  the  good  old  patriarch  ;  but  he  lived  to  learn 
that  all  those  apparently  untoward  circumstances  were  over- 
ruled for  his  good.  Jacob  was  a  plain  man,  and  so  are  you, 
and  may  nothing  in  this  country  ever  make  you  otherwise ;  — 
not  that  I  am  at  all  alarmed  for  you  on  this  score.  '  First 
pure,  then  peaceable,'  as  was  said  of  Bishop  Lake,  should  be 
the  motto  of  every  one  who  wishes  to  disseminate  Christianity. 

I  believe  it  would  save  your  brother  Bishop a  world  of 

uneasiness. 

George  talks  of  your  coming  here  with  him  next  week. 
Nothing  can  give  us  more  pleasure  than  the  thoughts  of  your 
coming  to  us  at  any  time  you  please.  I  shall  most  gladly 
meet  you  at  Rugby  at  the  time  he  proposes,  and  convey  you 
from  thence  to  Cotesbatch.  But  I  do  beg  that  you  will  delib- 
erately arrange  your  own  plans,  without  any  embarrassment 
from  any  plans  or  schemes  of  any  one  else.  My  brother  John 
is  much  delighted  at  the  thoughts  of  seeing  us  (if  we  should 
put  our  scheme  in  execution)  in  Devonshire.  Sir  Thomas 
Ackland,  who  resides  in  his  parish,  called  here  on  Friday,  in 
his  way  from  the  funeral  of  Mr.  Hartop,  and  I  gave  him  a 
copy  of  the  Appeal,  which  he  took  with  him  to  London,  and 
another  to  his  companion,  Mr.  John  James,  which  he  took 
into  Bedfordshire.  My  sister  was  here  on  Saturday,  and  took 
a  few  more  of  the  Appeals  to  Rugby,  but  I  could  not  spare 
many.  I  think  you  had  better  bring  a  few  more  with  you 
next  week.  I  hope  you  have  been  to  see  my  cousins  at 
Greenwich.  Tell  George  to  introduce  you  to  our  friend  Cum- 
ming.  My  wife  unites  in  kind  regards  and  good  wishes  with 
yours  sincerely  and  affectionately,  Robert  Marriott." 

The  journal  thus  continues  from  the  writer's  lodgings  in 
Featherstone  buildings,  London  :  — 

"  APRIL  14,  3  O'CLOCK,  P.  M. 

"  The  Rev.  Mr.  Wheaton  called.  I  had  learned  before  that 
the  Archbishops  and  the  Bishop  of  London  had  subscribed  to 


bishop   chase's  reminiscences.  329 

the  Joint  Appeal.     While  Mr.  W.  was  with  me,  Mr.  G.  W. 
Marriott  called,  and  read  his  brother's  letter." 

"  11  O'CLOCK,  p.  M. 

"  Drank  tea  at  seven  at  good  Mr.  Marriott's.  Miss  Duff 
Macfarlane  came  in,  and  in  the  midst  of  Ohio  anecdotes  a 
note  was  received  from  the  Bishop  of  St.  David's,  Dr.  Bur- 
gess, addressed  to  Mr.  M.,  who  said,  '  This  good  prelate  has 
at  length  arrived  from  Durham,  and  Bishop  C.  ought  to  lose 
no  time  in  visiting  him.  And  what  should  hinder  now?'  he 
added.  '  Pray  go  this  night.  It  is  but  half  past  nine ;  you 
can  call  a  coach;  you'll  soon  be  there,  and  the  good  Bishop 
will  be  glad  to  see  you.' 

"  No  sooner  said  than  done.  We  found  him  sitting  in  his 
modest  chair,  neatly  but  plainly  dressed,  with  his  books  and 
papers  before  him.  He  received  me  in  a  friendly  manner,  and 
entered  warmly  into  my  cause :  said  he  was  happy  to  learn 
that  the  opposition,  for  which  he  had  never  seen  any  reason, 
had  been  withdrawn  :  that  he  had  subscribed  five  poimds 
some  time  ago  to  Mr.  Wheaton,  and  now  would  contribute  ten 
guineas  to  Ohio  :  that  he  would  thank  me  to  send  him  a  dozen 
of  -the  Appeals,  and  he  would  see  that  they  were  communi- 
cated to  the  Bishops :  that  he  had  no  doubt  of  my  success.11 

This  opinion,  as  the  event  proved  it  to  be,  might  be  set  down 
as  prophetical.  Yet  the  means  by  which  it  should  be  brought 
to  pass  were  hidden  and  unseen  as  footsteps  in  the  great  deep. 
All  London  was  prepossessed  against  the  writer,  with  the 
exception  of  a  very  few  who  had  been  convinced  by  private 
means.  The  withdrawing  of  the  objections  contained  in  the 
"Notices,"  (if  they  may  be  said  ever  to  have  been  withdrawn,) 
did  not  obviate  them.  They  were  considered  in  full  force  and 
virtue,  although,  for  secret  reasons,  not  urged  as  at  the  first. 
The  prelates  of  the  Church  of  England  and  all  their  friends, 
excepting  as  above,  were  of  this  opinion,  and  viewed  the 
writer  as  a  factious  schismatic. 

And  what  could  remove  so  mighty  a  difficulty  as  this  ?  Had 
the  writer  any  ability  for  so  great  a  work ?  Alas,  no  !  He  felt 
his  bands  tied  :  not  a  finger  could  be  moved  m  public.     God 

28* 


330  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

only  could  help  him  to  disabuse  the  British  public  mind  by 
means  beyond  the  reach  of  man's  ability  to  divine.  Consider, 
first,  the  British  parliament.  Not  a  man  of  them,  that  felt 
any  interest  in  public  affairs,  (except  the  few  mentioned,)  but 
harbored  great  aversion  to  the  name  and  cause  of  the  writer. 
And  how  came  they  to  change  their  minds,  so  as  in  any  con- 
siderable numbers  to  support  what  they  had  before  rejected 
and  despised?  In  answer  to  this  take  the  following  plain 
narrative.  Facts  are  God's  footsteps;  and  though  they  are 
wide  and  far  between,  yet,  tending  to  one  point,  they  show 
the  Divine  Author  by  their  benevolent  and  wise  results. 

In  the  current  year  of  our  Lord,  1824,  the  British  parliament 
was  much  divided  on  the  great  question  of  the  national  redemp- 
tion of  the  colored  population  in  the  West  Indies.  The  pros 
and  the  cons  were  counted  to  a  man ;  and  while  the  scale  was 
held  in  equal  balance,  there  was  no  estimating  the  value  of  a 
single  vote.  Whatever  would  favor  one  side  and  help  to  pro- 
cure a  preponderating  suffrage,  was  estimated  far  beyond  its 
intrinsic  excellency ;  and  any  man  who  had  shown  a  favora- 
ble disposition  towards  the  slave  population,  or  made  any  the 
least  sacrifices  in  their  behalf,  was  sure  to  be  caressed. 

Now  there  was  a  man  in  London,  a  member  of  parliament, 
who,  acting  with  Mr.  Wilberforce  in  most  things,  was  his  par- 
ticular friend  in  this.  This  man's  name  was  Joseph  Butter- 
worth,  a  gentleman  of  unbounded  benevolence,  and  intimately 
acquainted  with  the  police  of  London.  Through  this  channel 
he  had  known  the  writer  ever  since  he  took  up  his  residence 
in  No.  10  Featherstone  buildings.  He  knew  that  he  was 
there,  unnoticed  and  unknown,  from  November  till  after  his 
return  in  the  spring  from  the  north,  and  he  had  thought  little 
of  him,  merely  because  others  did  so.  "  And  how,"  the  reader 
will  ask,  "came  Mr.  Butterworth  to  think  otherwise  of  the 
neglected  being  living  in  No.  10  Featherstone  buildings,  High 
Holborn  ?"  Simply  because  Dr.  Robert  Dow,  of  New  Orleans, 
came  to  town.  "  And  how  could  this  gentleman  influence  so 
sound  a  judgment  as  that  of  Mr.  Joseph  Butterworth?"  The 
story  was  this. 

Dr.  Dow  had  emigrated  from  Scotland  to  New  Orleans  when 
young  in  his  profession.     In  that  city  he  had  accumulated  a 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  331 

competent  fortune,  even  before  the  writer  removed  there,  and 
often  was  heard  to  say  that  he  desired  to  spend  the  evening 
of  his  days  in  his  native  Cathcart,  among  his  relatives.  Many 
years  after  the  writer's  leaving  Louisiana  this  resolution  was 
fulfilled  in  his  sudden  removal  from  New  Orleans  to  Scotland. 
Stopping  in  London  to  invest  his  funds,  he  inquired  who  was 
a  proper  person  to  give  him  advice,  when  he  was  referred  to 
Mr.  Joseph  Butterworth.  In  the  interview  which  followed,  — 
during  which  all  his  wishes  were  fulfilled, — a  conversation 
something  like  this  occurred:  — 

Mr.  B.  "So  you  are  from  America,  Dr.  Dow?" 

Dr.  D.  "Yes,  just  arrived;  and  now  my  pecuniary  con- 
cerns are  settled,  shall  hasten  on  to  Scotland." 

Mr.  B.  "Were  you  acquainted  with  Bishop  Chase?" 

Dr.  D.  "Yes;  he  used  to  be  our  pastor  in  New  Orleans, 
and  I  was  his  physician  and  intimate  friend." 

Mr.  B.  "If  this  be  the  case  you  can  tell  us  something  of 
his  real  character.     Is  it  good  or  otherwise?" 

Dr.  D.  "Always  good;  and  why  is  it  questioned?  Is  he 
in  town?" 

Mr.  B.  "He  is,  and  has  been  since  November  last.  While 
another  American  prelate,  who  has  also  been  in  town  during 
the  same  period,  is  treated  with  great  respect,  he  is  neglected ; 
and  from  what  is  circulated  in  the  papers,  it  is  presumed  the 
ill  opinion  of  him  is  in  some  way  well  founded.  Pray  put  us 
right  in  this  respect  if  we  be  wrong." 

Here  the  honest  Dr.  Dow  took  occasion  to  express  both  his 
surprise  at  what  had  been  uttered  by  Mr.  B.,  and  to  answer 
his  question  in  a  manner  the  most  favorable  to  the  character 
of  the  writer. 

Mr.  B.  "  But  there  must  be  something  singular  in  this 
gentleman,  or  he  would  not  be  voluntarily  in  the  situation  in 
which  the  British  public  now  regard  him." 

Dr.  D.  "Singular  !  I  never  knew  anything  singular  in  him 
but  his  emancipating  his  yellow  slave;  and  that,  I  should 
suppose,  would  not  injure  him  here  in  England,  though  we  in 
New  ( Means  thought  it  foolish  as  well  as  singular." 

Here  the  doctor  told  the  story  of  the  yellow  slave  Jack,  as 
given  in  the  159th  and  100th  pages  of  this  memoir. 


332  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

This  story  caused  a  great  alteration  in  Mr.  Butterworth's 
mind,  insomuch  that  he  took  the  writer's  part,  invited  him  to 
his  house,  introduced  him  to  his  friends,  and  solicited  the  favor 
of  the  company  of  great  and  good  men  to  meet  him  at  his 
table.  Among  these  the  writer  remembers  to  have  seen  Dr. 
Jebb,  the  Bishop  of  Limerick,  the  Rev.  Legh  Richmond,  Mr. 
Pownell,  and  many  others  of  like  character  for  true  benevo- 
lence. The  Ohio  cause  grew  and  waxed  strong,  and  subscrip- 
tions of  considerable  amount  came  in ;  few  could  tell  why. 
The  cause  of  this  Wonderful  change  was  unknown  even  to  the 
writer,  until,  some  time  after,  he  received  a  letter  from  Dr. 
Dow,  dated  12th  July,  1824,  giving  an  account  of  this  dis- 
closure.    His  words  are  these:  — 

"  I  impressed  the  fact  on  the  mind  of  good  Mr.  Butterworth, 
and  the  willingness  you  showed  to  emancipate  your  slave, 
though  he  was  an  ungrateful  fellow.  I  mentioned  it  as  a 
proof  of  your  consistency  of  conduct,  as  relates  to  your  profes- 
sion and  the  part  of  the  United  States  you  inhabit.' ' 


DEATH   OF   THE   WRITER' S    SON   PHILANDER. 

On  the  evening  preceding  Good  Friday,  1824,  the  writer 
received  the  painful  intelligence  of  the  death  of  his  beloved 
son  Philander.  It  was  communicated  in  a  letter  from  his 
esteemed  friend  Bishop  Bowen,  of  South  Carolina,  which  is 
here  inserted  entire :  — 

"Charleston^  March  2,  1824. 
"  Rt.  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir  :  — 

"Your  very  excellent  son  expired  last  night  about  ten 
o'clock,  (as  his  constant  and  most  affectionate  attendant,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Rutledge,  has  expressed  himself  to  me,)  without  a 
struggle  or  a  sigh.  He  died,  I  have  reason  to  believe,  in  per- 
fect peace,  having  been  blessed,  from  the  Giver  of  every  good 
and  perfect  gift,  throughout  his  illness  and  even  to  its  latest 
and  most  painful  moments,  with  a  spirit  of  the  serenest  resig- 
nation. I  scarcely  know  how  to  tender  you  any  sympathy, 
but  in  the  rejoicing  with  which  as  a  parent  you  must  receive 
the  intelligence  that  this  truly  to  be  lamented  young  man 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  333 

exemplified  to  all  who  knew  or  saw  him  in  his  sickness,  and 
even  in  death,  every  lesson  of  piety  and  faith,  which  had  been 
so  carefully  inculcated  by  yourself,  and  enforced  by  the  word 
and  the  good  Spirit  of  God  upon  his  heart.  He  was  indeed 
the  instructor  of  all  who  approached  him ;  and  there  are  many 
who,  I  trust,  will  long  bear  upon  their  hearts  the  impression 
which  such  an  instance  of  the  efficacy  of  a  true  faith  cannot 
but  have  deeply  made. 

"  It  is  by  his  request,  my  dear  sir,  that  I  take  this  so  early 
opportunity,  even  before  his  remains  are  interred,  of  acquaint- 
ing you  with  the  bereavement  with  which  it  has  pleased  God 
that  you  should  be  afflicted.  '  Tell  my  father,'  said  he  to  me 
very  shortly  before  his  death,  '  tell  my  father  as  early  as  pos- 
sible, that  to  be  separated  from  him  thus  early  is  the  bitterest 
part  of  death.  I  had  hoped  to  live  to  show  him  my  gratitude 
and  affection ;  but  tell  him,  strong  as  I  have  felt  the  ties  that 
bound  me  to  life,  I  have  been  content,  nay,  I  have  become 
glad,  that  they  should  be  loosened  thus  early;  for  later,  my 
spirit  might  not  have  so  rejoiced  in  God  my  Saviour's  call. 
The  world  and  its  interests  might  have  had  more  power  for 
me  than  they  yet  have  had.  Tell  him  I  died  in  perfect  faith 
in  the  merits  of  my  Saviour  and  the  mercies  of  my  God, 
though  sometimes,  through  the  sense  of  sin,  not  unrepented 
of,  but  yet  possibly  unpardoned,  trembling  and  afraid.' 

"  The  last  time  he  spoke  to  me  he  asked,  with  a  calm  and 
serene  expression  of  countenance,  'Do  you  think  God  will 
save  me?'  On  my  answering  that  I  felt  the  happiest  and 
most  confident  persuasion  that  he  would,  '  Then  come,'  said 
he,  '  Lord  Jesus.  Oh,  come  quickly  and  release  me  ! '  It  has, 
in  short,  to  us  all  been  a  most  interesting  and  instructive  scene. 
May  God  sanctify  it  to  our  good  ! 

"It  will  no  doubt  be  consolatory  to  you  to  be  informed  that 
your  son  had  every  possible  attention  paid  him,  as  a  sick 
stranger,  from  his  first  arrival  among  us  until  he  breathed  his 
hist.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Rutledge  has  been  to  him  a  brother, 
constant,  unwearied  and  most  tender ;  watching  and  attend- 
ing upon  his  sickness  through  all  its  stages,  with  the  most 
extraordinary  fidelity  and  affection.  Nothing  indeed  has  been 
left  undone  that  your  own  affection  could  possibly  have  die- 


334  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

tated ;  nor  was  there  at  any  time  any  want  of  anything  neces- 
sary to  his  comfort  or  to  his  recovery,  had  it  been  God's 
pleasure  that  he  should  have  been  continued  in  life.  It  has 
been  his  will  that  you  should  resign  to  him  that  most  inesti- 
mable son.     I  know  you  have  already  been  '  content  to  do  it' 

"  An  opportunity  not  offering  to  despatch  my  letter  until 
after  the  interment  of  your  son,  it  is  proper  to  inform  you  that 
we  to-day,  the  3d,  committed  his  remains  to  the  ground,  with 
every  testimony  of  respect  that  became  the  occasion.  A  grave 
being  prepared  in  St.  Michael's  church-yard,  at  the  eastern 
extremity  of  the  church,  the  funeral  service  was  read  by 
myself,  and  an  address  delivered  by  Mr.  Rutledge,  founded  on 
a  passage  of  Scripture  which  the  deceased  had  himself  pointed 
out  and  commented  on,  as  one  which  he  thought  suitable,  and 
from  which  he  wished  those  who  might  be  assembled  at  his 
funeral  to  be  usefully  spoken  to.  The  effect  was  all  that  this 
saint  departed  could  have  desired.  Though  dead,  he  spoke  to 
the  hearts  of  many,  through  the  forcibly  interesting  represen- 
tation which  Mr.  R.  made  of  his  sentiments  and  feelings,  in 
dwelling  with  him  on  the  passage.  His  funeral  was  attended 
by  all  the  clergy  of  our  Church ;  and  those  of  other  denomi- 
nations also  generally  joined  in  the  procession  to  the  Church 
and  grave,  and  manifested  a  Christian  sensibility  to  all  the 
interest  which  the  occasion  was  fitted  so  seriously  to  inspire. 

"  Now,  my  dear  sir,  having  resigned  your  son  to  God.  as 
into  the  hands  of  a  faithful  Creator,  what  have  we  to  do  but 
to  rejoice  in  hope  of  the  day,  '  when  this  corruption  shall  put 
on  incorruption,  and  this  mortal  immortality?' 

"  With  a  sincere  interest  in  your  feelings,  I  remain  your 
friend  and  brother,  N.  Bowen." 

The  above  letter  from  Bishop  Bowen  was  received  on 
Thursday  night.  The  following  record  appears  for  the  day 
following :  — 

"  GOOD  FRIDAY,  1824. 

"  Psalm  xcix.  8.  '  Thou  wast  a  God  that  forgavest  them, 
though  thou  tookest  vengeance  of  their  inventions.' 

"By  this  text,  it  appears  that  God  can  forgive,  though  he 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  335 

punishes  for  sins.  He  hath  taken  my  dear  son  from  me,  and 
thus  brought  my  manifold  sins  to  remembrance.  Wash  them 
away,  O,  blessed  Jesus !  with  thy  blood  this  day  shed  on  the 
cross  for  the  sins  of  the  world ;  and  thus  sanctify  this,  the 
second  heaviest  affliction  of  my  life,  to  my  soul's  benefit. 

"Bat  yesterday  my  dear  Philander  was  an  infant.  I  have 
lived  to  see  him  pass  through  the  years  of  childhood  and 
youth.  I  have  lived  to  be  the  instrument  of  his  ordination  to 
the  work  of  the  Christian  ministry.  I  have  seen  him  a  hus- 
band and  a  father.  He  is  now  gone.  Having  finished  his 
course — short  indeed — he  is  now  entered  into  his  rest,  leav- 
ing me  to  travel  the  rest  of  my  journey  of  life  alone.  //  is 
God's  will:  I  am  content.  Confident  that  he  is  happy  in 
Abraham's  bosom,  I  wish  him  not  back  again  in  this  trouble- 
some world.     Amen  and  amen. 

"  The  Rev.  Thomas  Hartwell  Home  took  me  to  Christ's 
Church  Hospital,  of  glorious  memory  in  its  foundation  and 
usefulness.  Seven  hundred  boys,  poor  and  indigent,  are  here 
continually  educated,  of  whom  my  friend  was  one. 

"  The  divine  service  was  performed  by  himself;  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Crowther  preached  the  sermon,  which  was  very  good.  I 
spent  the  intermission  with  Mr.  Home,  his  wife  and  two 
lovely  daughters.  They  live  in  Great  Isling  street,  about  two 
miles  from  the  church.  We  took  a  coach  in  going  and  com- 
ing. Himself  preached  in  the  afternoon;  his  text  was  the 
title  over  the  cross  of  Christ. 

"Came  home  at  half  past  eight  By  invitation  went  to 
good  Mr.  Marriott's;  saw  Mr.  Thornton.  They  all  read  the 
good  letter  of  Bishop  Bowen,  concerning  the  death  of  dear 
Philander.  Read  part  of  a  chapter  and  prayers,  and  came 
home.  O  may  God  support  me  under  this  heaviest  affliction, 
through  Jesus  Christ!  When  shall  I  flee  away  and  be  at 
rest  ?  In  the  good  time  appointed  of  the  Lord.  O  tarry  thou 
the  Lord's  leisure  ;  be  strong  and  he  shall  comfort  thine  heart. 
Put  thou  thy  trust  in  the  Lord.  '  Thou,  0  God !  shalt  arise 
and  have  mercy  upon  Zion ;  for  the  time  to  favor  her,  yea  the 
set  time  is  come.' 

11  It  is  the  gloomiest  time  just  before  day." 


336  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

The  above  is  an  exact  record  made  of  passing  events  on  the 
night  of  Good  Friday,  1824.  Private  thoughts  and  feelings 
are  more  fully  transcribed  than  is  usual,  because  there  seems 
something  singular  in  them,  when  taken  in  connection  with 
the  events  that  followed. 


THE  OLD  LETTER. 

It  will  be  recollected  that  the  writer,  in  the  winter  of  1821-2, 
had  sent  a  letter,*  in  answer  to  the  inquiries  of  Rev.  Dr. 

J ,  of  Boston,  respecting  the  way  and  means  by  which  the 

Episcopate  of  Ohio  was  supported.  It  will  be  recollected  that 
this  answer,  though  composed  in  haste  and  surrounded  with 
painful  circumstances,  yet  might  be  supposed  to  be  somewhat 
descriptive,  and  feelingly  expressed.  Intended  only  for  the 
eye  of  a  sympathizing  friend,  it  is  natural  to  believe  it  went 
into  some  particulars  of  privations  and  sufferings,  too  humil- 
iating to  the  Church  to  be  exhibited  openly  to  the  gaze  of  her 
enemies,  or  to  the  mortification  of  her  friends.  Yet  every 
Word  was  true,  and  served  to  show,  not  the  method,  the  ways 
and  the  means,  by  which  the  Episcopate  of  Ohio  was  sup- 
ported, but  that  there  was  no  support  at  all ;  that  the  Bishop 
travelled  at  his  own  expense ;  that  he  paid  his  own  laborers 
to  earn  his  bread  at  home ;  and  that,  when  the  means  to  do 
this  failed,  he  had  to  labor,  and  wait  on  himself,  and  perform 
the  menial  offices  of  his  domestic  affairs,  though  at  the  same 
time  discharging  the  duties  of  the  Episcopate,  and  those  also 
of  a  parochial  clergyman. 

Now  will  the  reader  believe  that  this  letter,  intended  only 
for  the  eye  of  his  friend  in  Boston,  and  long  since  forgotten, 
was,  in  the  year  1824,  actually  in  the  hands  of  a  lady  in  Lon- 
don, who  had  been  several  times  in  company  with  the  writer 
at  Mr.  G.  W.  Marriott's,  in  Queen's  square?  Yet  she  had 
never  mentioned  it  to  any  one.  Silently  listening  to  what 
was  said  of  and  by  the  American  Bishop,  till  she  was  con- 
vinced he  was  the  same  who  had  written  the  letter,  she 
desired  an  interview.     Her  letter  was  dated  on  Good  Friday 

♦See  page  176. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  337 

evening,  and  expressed  a  wish  to  see  the  writer  at  the  house 
of  her  relative,  living  in  Laurence  Pountney  lane,  adding 
these  words:  — "I  assure  you  I  feel  that  you  will  do  me  a 
great  favor  in  coming  so  far ;  but  I  hope  you  will  not  regret 
it.  I  am,  Rt.  Rev.  and  dear  sir,  most  truly  and  respectfully 
vours  Duff  Macfarlane." 

And  who  is  this  lady  ?  the  reader  will  inquire ;  and  what 
had  she  to  communicate  that  makes  it  proper  to  stop  the  cur- 
rent of  this  narrative  to  speak  of  her  ? 

She  is  a  daughter  of  Bishop  Macfarlane,  once  of  Inverness, 
in  Scotland,  a  friend  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  America,  and 
acquainted  with  Dr.  Samuel  Seabury,  the  first  American 
Bishop,  and,  the  writer  thinks,  present  at  his  consecration. 
She  had  come  to  London  to  advocate  the  cause  of  the  Scottish 
Episcopal  Clergy ;  had  been  for  some  time  the  recipient  of  the 
bounty  of  many  generous  persons  in  England,  and  had  con- 
tributed to  alleviate  the  wants  of  the  non-established  Church 
of  Scotland.  She  had  great  influence  with  the  intelligent  and 
benevolent  portions  of  society,  and  knew  what  cords  of  sym- 
pathy to  strike,  that  the  vibration  of  charity  and  love  might 
be  felt  throughout  the  land.  The  persons  who  knew  her 
worth  were  the  rich  in  faith  and  the  great  in  good  works ;  and 
few  could  resist  her  influence. 

One  thing  was  conspicuous  in  her  character,  viz.,  the  virtue 
of  Christian  disinterestedness.  The  Scotch  Episcopal  Church 
was  dear  to  her ;  yet  the  wants  of  others  might  have  a  para- 
mount claim,  without  exciting  her  jealousy,  or  rousing  her 
opposition.  She  never  dreamed  of  clogging  the  wheels  of 
benevolence  by  that  short-sighted  jealousy,  which  had  been  so 
recently  set  forth  in  London.     Such  and  all  such  she  seemed 

to  despise. 

Bui  to  return  to  the  invitation  to  breakfast  with  this  lady. 
It  wub  accepted,  and  the  writer  was  introduced  to  her  relative, 
I  worthy  and  agreeable  gentleman.  The  conversation  was 
on  ordinary  topics  till  the  breakfast  was  over  and  the  gentle- 
man reared  It  was  then  the  lady  produced  a  Letter,  and 
ask.  .1  d  tin-  wnt.T  was  the  author  of  it?  Something  like 
amazniiriit  ensued  for  several  moments.     The  eye  ran  rapidly 

29 


338  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

from  one  end  of  a  very  indifferent  letter  to  the  other.  The 
superscription  was  to  a  well-known  friend,  and  the  signature 
could  not  be  denied.  But  the  contents  of  the  letter !  The 
writer  had  forgotten  many  things,  and  had  to  read  several 
lines  together,  in  order  to  refresh  the  memory.  At  length  all 
rose  to  view.  And  what  suggestions  accompanied  the  devel- 
oping of  such  facts  at  that  time,  and  under  the  circumstances 
in  which  the  writer  then  was  in  London  ?  That  the  whole 
perhaps  was  presented  as  an  obstacle  to  be  surmounted  by  an 
apology  for  having  disgraced  the  Church,  by  submitting  to  me- 
nial employments.  The  very  thought  caused  a  blush  of  shame 
and  a  stammering  of  utterance,  which  cannot  be  described. 

The  truth  was,  that  the  writer,  since  in  England,  had  been 
so  accustomed  to  obstacles  laid  in  his  way,  that  everything 
coming  suddenly  on  him  partook  of  the  quality  of  stratagem. 
A  reverie  of  this  sort,  however,  was  soon  dissipated  by  the 
kindness  of  the  good  lady,  who  repeated  the  question  named 
—  "Are  you,  sir,  the  author  of  this  letter?"     "  Yes,  madam ; 
and  feeling  pained  that  the   things  contained  in  this  letter 
should  be  made  known  beyond  the  eye  of  a  friend,  for  which 
only  they  were  designed,  I  have  reason,  I  think,  to  ask  how 
this  letter  came  into  your  possession?"     In  answering  this, 
the  lady  went  into  a  history  of  the  whole  matter.     She  said 
her  father  had  written  to  Dr.  J ,  requesting  some  informa- 
tion concerning  the  American  Church :  the  number  of  dio- 
ceses and  clergy ;  the  manner  of  raising  the  salaries  of  their 
Bishops,  &c.     That  the  good  Dr.,  after  some  delay,  had  sent 
an  answer  to  the  queries,  in  respect  to  all  the  dioceses  but  that 
of  Ohio,  the  Bishop  of  which,  he  said,  was  under  peculiar  dif- 
ficulties, on  which  he  would  make  no  comment,  but  send  his 
own  letter  to   speak  for  itself;    hoping  to  apologize   to   the 
Bishop  for  the  liberty  taken,  when  they  should  next  meet. 
The  letter,  she  observed,  instead  of  needing  an  apology,  was 
considered  by  all  who  had  seen  it  since  her  father  had  sent  it 
to  her,  which  was  some  time  before,  as  truly  worthy  and 
interesting  to  the  feelings  of  devoted  Christians.     That  one 
person  to  whom  she  had  shown  it  had  directed  her  to  give 
ten  guineas  to  the  Bishop  of  Ohio.     The  writer  thinks  this 
was  done  by  some  dying  person,  who  heard  the  letter  read,  as 


bishop  chase's  reminiscences.  339 

an  evidence  of  his  departing  blessing.  The  lady  said  that,  to 
the  sum  thus  obtained,  she  would  add  five  guineas  more,  all 
for  the  writer's  use.  But  being  told  that  all  presents  for  per- 
sonal benefit  to  the  writer  were  declined,  she  said  she  would 
apply  the  money  to  aid  in  the  purchase  of  communion  plate ; 
which  was  accordingly  done. 

But  it  may  be  said,  "  Why  lay  so  much  emphasis  on  these 
benefactions  of  Miss  Macfarlane?  Their  magnitude  is  not 
important,  although  respectable."  The  plain  answer  is  as 
follows: — This  lady,  as  observed  above,  had  influence  with 
others,  and  through  the  information  which  she  disseminated, 
the  cause  gained  friends,  and  donations  were  sent  in.  The 
Rt.  Hon.  Countess  Dowager  of  Rosse  was  made  acquainted 
with  the  Ohio  cause  through  Miss  Macfarlane  alone,  and  on 
her  munificence,  it  may  be  said,  the  crowning  success  of  the 
whole  depended. 

In  this  train  of  providential  events,  who  does  not  perceive 
that  the  ugly  letter,  the  letter  which  was  written  under  the 
most  painful  circumstances,  was  the  means,  in  the  hands  of 
God,  of  great  good  to  Ohio  ? 

Note  to  the  writer  from  G.  W.  Marriott :  — 

"  Saturday,  April  17,  1824. 
"My  Dear  Friend:  — 

"  Miss  M.  ?nust  see  Bishop  Bowen's  incomparable  letter, 
but  I  hope  you  will,  on  your  return  from  the  city,  send  it  to 
Mrs.  M.,  that  she  may  be  allowed  to  make  a  copy  for  Lord 
Kenyon.  Your  addresses  to  the  Archbishops  put  off  all  my 
communications  yesterday  evening.  I  trust,  therefore,  that 
we  shall  see  you  cither  at  five  to  dinner,  or  seven  to  tea,  this 
day.  And  you  must  dine  with  us  on  Monday  at  six,  when  I 
have  invited  the  Bishop  of  St.  David's  to  meet  you. 

11  Yours  most  devotedly,    -  G.  W.  Marriott." 


340  BISHOP    chase's   reminiscences. 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

JOURNAL    CONTINUED THE    WRITER    VISITS     THE     MAGDALEN    HOSPI- 

TAL VISITS  THE    BISHOPS    OF    ST.  DAVID'S,  DURHAM    AND  LONDON, 

AND    ARCHBISHOPS     OF     CANTERBURY     AND    YORK VISITS     GREEN- 
WICH    STOWE    NINE    CHURCHES,    COTESBATCH,     ETC. ASSEMBLAGE 

AT    LORD    BEXLEY'S. 

"On  Easter  day,  1824,  Mr.  Marriott  called  and  took  me  to 
the  chapel  of  Magdalen  Hospital,  and  introduced  me  to  many 
of  the  committee,  of  which  he  also  is  a  member.  The  chap- 
lain, the  Rev.  John  Prime,  said  he  had  been  forty-nine  years 
in  the  ministry,  and  forty  years  chaplain  of  that  institution, 
and  was  intimate  with  the  Rev.  William  Jones,  of  Nayland, 
whom  on  all  accounts  he  much  esteemed.  I  received  the  holy 
sacrament  at  his  hands. 

"  The  Penitents  were  separated  from  the  congregation  by  a 
screen,  and  when  the  sacrament  was  given  to  them  they  were 
out  of  sight.  The  design  of  this  arrangement  is  judicious,  and 
has  a  happy  effect.  What  can  impress  more  deeply  on  the 
minds  of  all  the  numerous  and  respectable  congregations,  the 
guilty  stain  which  sin  produces  on  the  female  character,  than 
this  spectacle? 

"  At  great  expense  this  asylum  has  been  prepared  for  repent- 
ing sinners ;  yet,  lest  this  charity  should  encourage  sin,  the 
guilty  are  forbidden  to  mingle  with  the  chaste  and  honorable 
part  of  their  sex.  Thus,  while  mercy  pities,  justice  condemns 
their  fault.  Their  sin  is  of  too  polluting  a  nature  to  allow 
their  persons  to  be  seen ;  yet  the  blood  of  Jesus  can  cleanse 
their  souls,  and  his  ministers  are  continually  leading  them  to 
repentance,  and  fitting  them  for  useful  though  humble  stations 
in  life ;  and  when  this  is  done,  saying  unto  them,  as  Jesus 
said  to  one  like  them,  Go  and  sin  no  more. 

"A  small  sacramental  cup  and  paten  were  shown  me. 
They  were  given  to  Mr.  Prime  by  his  father,  who  was  a  jew- 
eller, in  1784,  in  consequence  of  his  having  complained  that,  in 
the  private  administration  of  the  blessed  sacrament,  he  had 
frequently  been  much  annoyed,  by  the  unsuitableness  of  the 
vessels  which  he  was  obliged  to  use.     As  we  were  coming 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  341 

home,  Mr.  Marriott  observed  that  he  had  been  struck  with  the 
great  convenience  which  vessels  like  these  would  afford  to  a 
person,  situated  as  he  thought  I  frequently  was,  in  the  new 
countries,  and  accordingly  had  mentioned  it  as  his  intention 
to  procure  a  set. 

"  In  passing  over  Blackfriars  bridge,  I  was  struck  with  the 
magnificent  appearance  of  St.  Paul's  church.  It  rises  in  its 
lofty  dome,  and  while  it  preserves  all  its  proportions,  it  seems, 
when  compared  with  the  innumerable  spires  of  other  churches 
all  around,  like  a  mighty  giant,  unrivalled  in  strength  and 
beauty.  The  height  of  the  dome  is  more  than  four  hundred 
feet.  The  ball,  which  appeared  to  us  no  bigger  than  a  milk- 
maid's pail,  can  contain  a  dozen  men. 

"  Mr.  Pratt  says  that  Lady  Rosse  has  sent  two  hundred 
pounds,  and  Mr.  Cotton  fifty  pounds.     Laus  DeoP 


"EASTER  MONDAY,  APRIL  19. 

"  Attended  church  at  St.  James'.  In  the  evening  received 
a  letter  from  the  Bishop  of  St  David's,  of  which  the  following 
is  a  copy :  — 

"'April  19,  1824 

" '  The  Bishop  of  St.  David's  presents  his  compliments  to 
Bishop  Chase,  and  will  be  happy  to  go  with  him  to  the  Bishop 
of  Durham's  to-morrow  morning,  (the  20th,)  at  twelve  o'clock, 
if  Bishop  Chase  could  conveniently  be  with  the  Bishop  of  St. 
David's  at  a  quarter  before  twelve.  The  Bishop  of  Durham 
is  prepared  for  the  visit.' 

"The  writer  of  the  above  note  keeps  the  following  Latin 
memorandum  continually  on  the  leaves  of  his  pocket-book ;  so 
says  G.  W.  Marriott,  who  is  intimate  with  him  :  — 

"'  Memento  mori.  Memento  tibi  ipsi  mori:  et  Deo  soli 
vivere.  Memento  tibi  non  placere ;  tibi  displacere ;  tibi  ut  alii 
displiciant  velle ;  ut  alii  te  contemnant  et  aversentur.  Modo 
amet  Deus  et  faciat  omnia  tibi  cooperentur  in  bonum.' " 

29* 


342  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

"EASTER  TUESDAY,  APRIL  20. 

"Received  notes  this  morning,  of  which  the  following  are 
copies :  — 

"  < Easter  Tuesday,  6  A.  M. 

" '  My  Dear  Friend  :  — 

"  «I  wrote  to  the  dean  of  C.  by  the  first  post  this  morning, 
and  if  I  mistake  not  you  will  soon  hear  of  him  to  good  pur- 
pose. He,  as  well  as  Dr.  Gaskin,  was  of  a  committee  for 
relief  of  Scotch  Bishops  and  clergy.  You  will  probably  find 
him  in  the  Annals  I  sent  you.  Remember  this  when  you 
meet,  and  that  the  dean  is  very  intimate  with  Prince. 

" '  Our  hired  carriage  is  to  be  with  you  at  the  Bishop  of 
Durham's,  at  a  quarter  after  twelve,  and  wait  your  time.  But 
as  soon  as  you  have  left  the  Bishop,  you  must  come  to  us,  for 
we  shall  not  otherwise  get  through  half  our  destinations  of  this 
day,  and  they  are  most  important  to  your  cause. 

"  '  Remember  that  the  Bishop  you  are  going  to  see  will  be 
ninety  next  month,  and  was  a  Bishop  in  1769,  and  has  been 
father  of  the  Bench  of  Bishops  twenty-four  years. 

"<G.  W.  M.' 

"  'Great  George  Street,  April  19,  1824. 
"  'Lord  Bexley  presents  his  compliments  to  the  Bishop  of 
Ohio,  and  is  very  sorry  he  was  so  unfortunate  as  not  to  see 
the  Bishop  this  morning,  which  Lord  B.  the  more  regrets,  as 
he  is  about  to  leave  town  for  the  Easter  Holidays.  He  hopes 
on  his  return  to  have  the  honor  of  seeing  the  Bishop.' ; 

"WEDNESDAY,  APRIL  21. 

"  Walked  yesterday  three  miles  to  the  Bishop  of  St.  David's, 
Upper  Montague  street.  Arrived  before  the  Bishop  had  come 
from  Church.  He  most  kindly  addressed  me  when  we  came 
in,  and  soon  were  we  in  the  carriage  and  drove  to  Cavendish 
square. 

"  The  Lord  Bishop  of  Durham  gave  me,  on  entering  his 
study,  a  hearty  welcome ;  told  me  he  had  heard  of  me,  and 
the  object  which  had  brought  me  to  England,  and  highly 
approved  of  my  design.    Making  a  sign  of  referring  to  his 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  343 

papers,  and  at  the  same  time  inquiring  for  my  banker,  the 
Bishop  of  St.  David's  observed  that  I  received  no  collections 
myself,  but  that  all  this  was  done  through  the  medium  of  my 
friends,  of  whom  Mr.  G.  W.  Marriott  was  one.  At  this  the 
Bishop  of  Durham  laid  down  his  book,  and  proceeded  to  talk 
of  the  Ohio  seminary.  I  showed  him  the  map  of  the  western 
states,  and  pointed  out  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi.  '  And 
your  plan  is  to  found  a  seminary  for  the  supply  of  this  vast 
country  with  Christian  ministers,  according  to  our  primitive 
Church?'  'The  same,  my  Lord,'  said  I.  'It  is  good,'  said 
he ;  '  I  like  you  and  your  plan,  .and  I  hope  to  hear  more  of 
both.  Come  and  dine  with  me  on  Thursday,  at  five,  and  we 
will  talk  it  all  over.' 

"  Mr.  Marriott  having  sent  a  coach,  I  was  soon  at  his  door, 
and  found  that,  instead  of  being  at  liberty  to  dine  with  the 
Bishop  of  Durham  on  Thursday,  I  was  engaged  to  spend  all 
that  day  at  Greenwich.     I  sent  the  following  apology  :  — 

11  No.  10  Feather  stone  buildings,  April  20,  1824, 
"  '  My  Lord  Bishop  :  — 

"  'It  is  with  the  most  unfeigned  regret  that  I  am  compelled 
to  forego  the  pleasure  of  complying  with  your  Lordship's  very 
kind  invitation  on  Thursday.  I  find  that,  by  an  engagement 
of  near  three  weeks'  standing,  I  am  expected  to  spend  nearly 
the  whole  of  that  day  at  Greenwich,  where  several  gentlemen 
who  have  received  the  Appeals  are  to  meet  me,  and  one  travels 
seventy-two  miles  for  that  purpose.  I  am  sadly  apt  to  forget 
this  sort  of  engagements ;  and  in  my  great  desire  to  have  the 
honor  of  waiting  on  your  Lordship,  I  overlooked  that  of  Thurs- 
day, and,  indeed,  had  confused  the  name  of  Stow,  (the  gentle- 
man at  whose  house  I  am  to  visit  on  Thursday,)  with  that  of 
the  place  I  am  to  visit  on  Friday,  on  my  way  to  Warwick- 
shire. 

"  '  I  shall  avail  myself  of  my  first  opportunity  of  having  the 
honor  of  seeing  your  Lordship,  by  calling  in  a  morning. 

" '  I  am,  with  sincere  veneration,  your  faithful  brother  in 
Christ,  and  much  obliged  servant, 

11 '  Philander  Chase.'  n 


344  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 


"APRIL  21. 


"Yesterday,  at  three,  went  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marriott, 
Eliza  and  Sophia,  to  Stone  Layton,  the  residence  of  Mr.  Wm. 
Davis ;  all  most  agreeable. 

"  Called  to-day,  by  invitation,  on  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Lon- 
don, who  received  me  kindly,  but  said  he  was  sorry  I  did  not 
present  my  appeal  in  conjunction  with  the  gentlemen  I  have 
heretofore  referred  to.  I  observed  that  I  felt  extremely  sorry 
that  any  non-compliance  on  my  part  to  measures  which  all 
who  are  acquainted  with  the  whole  case  saw  inexpedient, 
should  have  met  with  his  Lordship's  displeasure.  The  junc- 
tion was  deemed  impracticable,  and  the  gentleman  himself, 
before  he  left  England  for  Rome,  had  solemnly  agreed  to  with- 
draw his  opposition,  which  he  had  no  more  right  to  make  to 
thwart  my  measures,  than  I  had  to  oppose  his.  We  were  on 
a  footing  in  our  own  country,  and  there  was  no  reason  for 
either  to  assume  authority  over  the  other  here  in  England. 
His  Lordship  will  patronize  the  Ohio  cause. 

"  This  day  received  a  note  from  the  Archbishop  of  York,  of 
which  the  following  is  a  copy :  — 

u  '  40  Grosvenor  Square,  Tuesday  ) 
Evening,  April  20,  1824.      ) 

u  '  The  Archbishop  of  York  has  received  from  Bishop  Chase 
the  Appeal  in  behalf  of  the  Diocese  of  Ohio,  through  the 
medium  of  his  friend,  Mr.  Gray,  of  York.  The  Archbishop 
had  previously  received  a  full  and  detailed  account  of  all  the 
circumstances  connected  with  Bishop  Chase's  visit  to  Eng- 
land ;  but  hearing  also  that  another  American  Bishop,  within 
whose  province  the  district  of  Ohio  was  said  to  be  included, 
is  soliciting  assistance  to  carry  into  effect  a  general  plan  of  a 
similar  kind  for  the  benefit  of  the  entire  province,  the  Arch- 
bishop has  judged  it  necessary  for  the  present  to  suspend  his 
determination  as  to  the  line  he  may  himself  eventually  take  on 
the  occasion.  In  the  mean  time,  the  Archbishop  will  have 
great  pleasure  in  receiving  Bishop  Chase  either  to-morrow  or 
Thursday,  between  twelve  and  one  o'clock.'" 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  345 

"THURSDAY,  APRIL  22. 

"  The  events  of  this  day  have  been  most  important;  —  the 
calling  on  the  Archbishops  of  Canterbury  and  York,  and  a 
visit  to  Greenwich. 

"  That  there  existed  inveterate  prejudices  against  me  in  the 
minds  of  these  eminent  prelates  was  certain :  that  they  with- 
drew these  prejudices  with  reluctance  was  equally  plain;  and 
that  every  step  in  approaching  their  good  opinion  was  to 
be  gained  by  a  clear  demonstration  of  the  fallacy  of  the  bug- 
bears raised  in  their  minds  by  the  misrepresentations  of  last 
winter,  was  no  less  evident.  I  saw,  in  my  first  glance  to  the 
face  of  his  Grace  of  Canterbury,  a  settled  cloud,  which,  fully 
to  dissipate,  needed  the  full  blaze  of  truth,  and  that  plainly 
told.     But  whether  this  was  afforded  is  not  for  me  to  say. 

"  At  one  o'clock  I  called  on  the  Archbishop  of  York.    Under 
what  impressions  I  approached  this  eminent  prelate  may  be 
seen  by  turning  to  his  letter.     His  Grace  supposed  that  Ohio 
was  within  the  jurisdiction  of  New  York,  and  had  no  right 
to  act  in  any  case — not  even  in  soliciting  the  means  of  eccle- 
siastical existence — contrary  to  the  mandates  of  the  Bishop  of 
that  diocese.     His  letter  above  alluded  to  implies  all  this. 
This  fixed  and  expressed  opinion  was  evidently  the  necessary 
result  of  what  had  been  assumed  in  the  publications  of  last 
winter.     Thinking  those  claims  to  exclusive  right  to  be  the 
truth,  his  Grace's  opinion,  as  expressed  in  the  letter,  was  built 
upon  it.     What  is  said  about  Ohio  being  '  within  the  province 
of  New  York,'  is  meant  in  the  sense  of  jurisdiction,  and  not  of 
locality,  as  the  words  seem  to  imply.     They  meant  that  as  the 
Bishop  of  New  York  had  archi-episcopal  authority  over  the 
Bishop  of  Ohio,  the  latter  had  no  right  to  come  to  England 
and  make  collections  without  his  permission.     This  opinion 
he  founded  on  the  claims  of  last  winter,  and  it  must  be  ac- 
knowledged that  it  was  just,  if  those  claims  were  such.     A 
true  statement  of  the  perfect  equality  of  position  among  the 
American  Bishops  in  regard  to  authority,  as  set  forth  in  our 
constitution  and  laws  of  the  Episcopal  Church  of  America, 
was  sufficient,  and  the  interview  terminated  most  agreeably. 
"Both  their  Graces  gave  me  a  general  invitation  to  come 


346  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

and  see  them.  The  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  said  he  hoped 
to  see  me  at  dinner  soon  after  my  return  from  the  country. 
Both  will  subscribe  to  the  Ohio  cause  ! 

"  There  is  something  so  pleasingly  strange  in  the  evident 
change  which  God  hath  wrought  in  the  hearts  of  these  highest 
dignitaries  of  the  Church  of  England,  that  it  begets  amaze- 
ment and  awe  in  the  human  breast.  When  the  mind  contem- 
plates it,  one  feels  inclined  to  think  God  is  present,  and  the 
whole  earth  should  keep  silence  before  him,  and  to  say,  c  Not 
unto  us,  O  Lord,  but  to  thy  name  be  the  glory.' 

"  In  the  afternoon  went  in  company  with  Mrs.  Marriott  to 
Greenwich.  Her  nephew,  Mr.  Caldicott,  student  in  the  tem- 
ple, accompanied  us.  Mr.  Matthews  and  Mr.  Stowe  received 
us  with  great  hospitality.  After  refreshments,  we  all  went 
through  the  Park  to  the  Royal  Observatory,  from  whence  so 
many  important  discoveries  have  been  made  in  the  heavens. 

"  The  view  from  this  elevated  building  is  both  grand  and 
beautiful.  The  park  immediately  beneath  you,  —  even  the 
top  of  the  trees  being  much  lower  than  the  Observatory ;  the 
town  spreading  all  around  you  to  the  right  and  to  the  left ; 
still  beyond  both,  the  river  Thames  winding  almost  in  a  com- 
plete circle,  with  innumerable  white  sails  on  its  silver  bosom ; 
and  to  crown  all,  and  above  all,  the  vast  city  of  London,  with 
its  thousand  spires,  like  a  forest  of  trees,  and  St.  Paul's  and 
Westminster  Abbey  giving  an  apex  to  the  picture.  This,  said 
I,  is  worthy  of  that  impression  which  by  traditionary  lore, 
aided  by  a  glowing  fancy,  I  had  from  my  infancy  formed  of 
England's  greatness.  When  such  are  her  natural  mingled 
with  her  artificial  beauties,  no  wonder  she  is  the  admiration 
of  the  world. 

"  From  the  Observatory  we  went  on  board  one  of  the  ves- 
sels engaged  in  making  discoveries  at  the  north  pole.  I  was 
struck  with  the  peculiar  strength  of  its  construction.  A 
marine  hospital  ship  next  engaged  our  attention.  Any  sick 
seaman,  from  any  nation,  is  here  received  and  ministered  to 
by  nurses  and  doctors  till  he  is  well,  and  after  his  discharge 
he  is  at  liberty  to  return  to  his  lodging  and  food  till  he  can 
find  employment. 

"Dined  at  Mr.  Stowe' s,  in  Greenwich.     In  riding  home,  I 


BISHOP    chase's    reminiscences.  347 

was  set  down  at  Mr.  Pratt's,  No.  22  Doughty  street.     The 
good  news  pleased  him  well. 

"I  received  this  afternoon  the  following  letter  from  good 
Mr.  Wiggin: — ■ 

" 'Manchester,  April  21,  1824. 
"  (  My  Dear  Friend  :  — 


a  i 


Your  favor  of  the  15th  did  not  come  to  hand  till  Mon- 
day. 

"  '  That  of  the  19th  gave  me  great  confidence  in  your  suc- 
cess. The  donations  of  Lady  Rosse  and  Mr.  Cotton  are  mu- 
nificent, and  the  letter  from  a  barrister  is  very  gratifying  to 
me.  It  shows  more  liberality  of  feeling  then  I  often  meet  with 
in  this  part  of  England.  How  gratifying  your  success  would 
have  been  to  your  dear  and  ever  to  be  lamented  son,  could  he 
have  lived  to  see  the  auspicious  dawn  of  the  Church  in  Ohio ! 
It  has  pleased  the  Almighty  to  order  it  otherwise,  and  to 
remove  him  from  a  troublesome  world;  and  it  is  our  duty, 
while  we  most  deeply  mourn  his  loss  to  the  Church,  to  society 
and  friends,  to  submit  without  repining  or  a  murmur. 

"  '  To  you  I  can  write  nothing  consoling.  He  was  endeared 
to  you  by  his  virtues,  and  his  usefulness  to  that  Church  which 
is  dearer  to  you  than  all  earthly  things.  His  place  you  can- 
not supply ;  but  those  amiable  traits  of  character  which  so 
much  endear  his  memory  and  make  the  loss  irreparable,  afford 
you  a  well-grounded  hope  that  he  is  now  in  heaven.  You 
have  been  prepared  for  the  event,  and,  although  the  act  of 
separation  could  not  fail  to  cause  the  deepest  anguish,  you 
know  well  the  duty  of  a  Christian  under  the  afflicting  dispen- 
sations of  Providence,  and  can  derive  no  support  from  any- 
thing I  can  say  or  do ;  but  you  shall  have  my  prayers  and 
best  wishes,  that  you  may  feel  the  support  of  that  Being  on 
whose  mercy  and  goodness  you  place  your  whole  reliance. 

"'Adieu,  my  dear  friend,  and  believe  me  most  faithfully 
yours,  T.  Wiggin. 

'  P.  S.  I  expect  my  daughter  will  arrive  in  London  from 
Paris,  by  or  before  the  middle  of  next  month,  and  it  is  my 
intention  to  meet  her  there.  I  hope  to  see  you  about  that 
time,  as  I  expect  you  will  find  it  for  the  interest  of  the  cause 


348  BISHOP   chase's   reminiscences. 

to  remain  there  till  then.  The  annual  meetings  of  the  great 
societies  will  take  place  soon,  and  I  expect  you  will  attend 
them.' 

"And  now,  my  dear  wife,  in  closing  this  record  of  the 
cheering  incidents  of  this  day,  let  me  add  that  the  brightest 
prospects  are  in  the  hopes  set  before  us  in  the  gospel.  The 
blessed  triumph  over  death,  which  Jesus  at  this  season  of 
the  year  did  accomplish,  is  more  animating  than  all  this  world 
can  afford.  Through  faith  in  this,  I  am  sure  my  dear  Philan- 
der '  is  not  dead,  but  sleepeth.'  Jesus  will  awake  him  by  a 
word  at  the  last  day,  when  he  shall  arise,  as  the  sun  ariseth 
in  splendor  to  call  all  mankind  from  their  beds ;  and  in  awak- 
ing the  son,  will  He  forget  to  call  a  sleeping  father,  also,  that 
both  may  be  clothed  with  the  robes  of  His  righteousness  ! " 

"FRIDAY,  APRIL  23,  1824. 

"  Rose  early,  to  be  prepared  for  the  coach  at  six.  Wrote  a 
note  to  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  giving  his  Grace  the 
names  of  the  principal  subscribers.  Rode  sixty  miles  with 
Mr.  Marriott  to  Stowe  Nine  Churches,  to  visit  the  dear  Craw- 
leys—  a  fair  sample  of  English  hospitality  and  kindness. 
Addressed  the  young  clergy  present.  The  Rev.  Robert  Mar- 
riott, having  been  notified  by  his  brother,  came  twenty  miles 
to  meet  us  here ;  a  most  joyous  event !  " 

«  APRIL  24. 

"Set  off  about  noon  for  Rugby;  with  a  hearty  welcome 
was  received  by  all.  Visited  Rugby  Grammar  School,  Dr. 
Wool ;  several  hundred  scholars.  Went  the  same  night  to 
Cotesbatch,  where  most  welcome. 

"  Received  a  letter  from  Lord  Kenyon,  from  which  the  fol- 
lowing is  an  extract:  — 

"  'Gredington,  April  24,  1824. 
"  { My  Dear  Sir:  — 

"'I  know  not  where  to  find  our  excellent  friend.  G.  W. 
Marriott ;  but  as  I  understand  that  this  will  assuredly  find 
you  at  Cotesbatch ;  and  as  we  three  (I  say  it  most  thankfully) 
are  in  perfect  sympathy  in  everything  relating  to  your  own 
and  the  other  American  claims,  I  take  the  liberty  to  let  you 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  349 

know,  and  him  through  you,  that  I  wish  to  add  ten  pounds  to 
my  subscription  to  Ohio,  to  make  it  thirty  pounds,  as  I  have 

written,  last  night,  to  Mr.  W n  to  desire  that  my  twenty 

pounds  to  Connecticut  may  be  made  into  fifty  pounds,  now  he 

and are  united.    Most  heartily  do  I  congratulate  you,  and 

rejoice  with  you,  my  honored  sir,  at  the  prosperous  result 
which  is  now  assured  to  your  truly  Christian  conduct. 

"  '  I  am  glad  to  think  we  shall  meet  again  before  Tong  in 
London,  and  truly  glad  shall  I  be  to  attend  you  at  our  central 
school,  or  anywhere  else  your  kind  wishes  or  my  time  may 
allow.  I  am  not  so  selfish  as  to  wish  to  see  you  here  to  the 
neglect  of  any  duty  you  have  to  perform,  and  I  well  know  I 
should  not  succeed,  were  I  so  selfish ;  but  I  very  much  hope  it 
may  be  in  good  Dr.  Gaskin's  power  to  accompany  you  here, 
as  all  circumstances  connected  with  you  give  you  so  entirely 
a  place  in  my  heart. 

"  'I  beg  my  kind  regards  to  your  excellent  host  and  hostess, 
and  remain,  my  dear  sir,  with  true  respect,  your  obliged  and 
faithful  Kenyon.'  " 

"SUNDAY,  APRIL  25. 

"G.  W.  M.  and  myself  crossed  the  green  field  to  Lutter- 
worth. Here  we  saw  the  pulpit,  the  candlesticks  and  the 
chair  of  Wicklifte,  the  reformer  and  first  translator  of  the 
Bible,  more  than  one  hundred  years  before  Luther.  The  very 
cope,  also,  of  purple  velvet,  but  now  in  rags,  preserved  on  a 
cotton  cloth,  was  spread  before  us.  So  much  is  his  name 
revered,  that  this  cloth,  with  the  cope,  was  for  many  years  used 
as  an  altar-cloth.  The  brook  of  running  water,  into  which 
his  ashes  were  cast  by  the  Romanists,  was  shown  me.  These 
deluded  beings  had  dug  up  his  body,  and  showed  their  spleen 
by  burning  it  and  casting  the  ashes  in  the  stream.  They 
were  indeed  carried  away,  and  with  them  went  the  news  of 
this  barbarous  act  and  the  truth  of  gospel  light." 

«  APRIL  26. 

"Went  to  Leicester.  Mr.  Babbington's  carriage  ready  to 
take  us  to  Rothsay  Temple.  The  country  beautiful,  and  the 
antiquity  of  the  buildings  and  chapel  very  interesting.  Saw 
Lady  Temple.     Much  talk  about  Ohio.     (It  is  said  this  is  the 

30 


350  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

house  and  family  which  Mrs.  H.  More  had  in  her  eye  when 
she  drew  the  picture  of  the  Stanley  family  in  her  Ccelebs.) 

"  Mrs.  Babbington  took  me  to  Lady  Palmer's.  Sir  Charles 
at  the  sessions.  Lady  P.,  a  native  of  America,  unites  dignity 
with  gentleness.     Returned  to  Leicester. 

"King  Richard's  dead  body  once  brought  through  the 
streets  of  this  town,  across  the  saddle  of  a  butcher's  horse. 
Kings  must  not  hire  cut-throats  to  murder  innocent  children. 
God  will  find  out  and  visit  their  iniquity.  I  thought  this  as  I 
walked  along  the  streets  of  Leicester. 

"Dined  with  the  magistrates,  at  their  united  invitation, 
presented  by  Sir  Charles  Palmer.  The  good  Marriotts  were 
present.  Slept  at  Mr.  Mitchell's.  Breakfasted  at  the  Three 
Crowns  with  good  Robert  M.,  with  whom  I  set  off  for  Lutter- 
worth by  the  way  of  Welford.  Naseby  in  sight,  at  which 
place,  June  14th,  1645,  was  the  famous  battle  between  King 
Charles  I.  and  Oliver  Cromwell.  Called  in  our  way  on  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Cotton,  grandson  of  the  author  of  the  'Fireside.' 
Four  lovely  children. 

"Mr.  Riddell's  carriage  meeting  us,  we  dismissed  the  post- 
chaise  and  rode  with  our  friends  to  Cotesbatch.  Dined  at 
Mr.  Marriott's.  Present,  Mrs.  Caldicott ;  Miss  Arnold,  of  Lut- 
terworth; the  Rev.  Mr.  Schomberg;  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  and 
Miss  Piddock,  of  Leicester.     Much  pleasant  conversation. " 

"  APRIL  29. 

"Rev.  R.  Marriott  took  me  in  his  coach  to  N.  Hampton. 
St.  Paul's  church,  of  this  place,  built  by  Sir  Christopher  Wren, 
is  one  of  the  best  churches  of  the  kind  in  England.  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Thursby  is  the  vicar,  who  followed  us  to  Stowe  Nine 
Churches.  All  dined  at  good  Mr.  Crawley's.  Mr.  Bush  was 
present.     All  the  company  most  delightful." 

"  FRIDAY,  APRIL  30. 

"  Took  leave  of  the  Crawley s  early.  Breakfasted  with  the 
vicar  at  N.  Hampton.  A  little  before  seven  stepped  into  a 
coach,  and  at  four  P.  M.  was  in  London.  Found  letters  from 
America;  all  well.  Also  a  note  from  Dr.  Gaskin,  saying  that 
he  had  dined  with  the  Bishop  of  London,  and  was  glad  to  find 
I  had  been  there  in  the  forenoon ;  trusted  that  the  next  day  I 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  351 

would  see  his  Grace  of  Canterbury,  and  that  my  reception 
with  the  other  prelates  would  be  as  I  would  wish.  This  letter 
was  dated  on  the  22d  of  April.  Another  note  on  the  table  was 
from  good  Lord  Gambier,  and  as  follows:  — 

"  '  Iver  Grove,  April  24,  1824. 
"  'My  Dear  Sir:  — 

"  *  I  have  long  wished  for  the  pleasure  of  another  visit  from 
you  at  this  place.  I  conclude  this  will  find  you  in  London, 
and  that  you  will  not  make  another  excursion  till  after  the 
general  meetings  of  the  several  religious  societies  are  over, 
(the  beginning  of  next  month.)  I  would  therefore  propose  to 
you  to  give  us  the  pleasure  of  your  company  here,  if  possible, 
on  Monday  next,  and  to  stay  with  us  till  the  Monday  follow- 
ing, when  you  will  perhaps  like  to  return  to  town  for  the 
meeting  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society  the  following  day. 

" ' 1  remain,  my  dear  sir,  with  sincere  regard,  your  very 
humble  friend,  .  Gambier.' 

"  This  was  the  day  appointed  to  dine  at  Lord  Bexley's. 
Took  a  coach  at  seven,  and  was  most  affectionately  received. 
Present,  Bishop  of  Chester,  Bishop  of  Limerick,  Dr.  Stuart,  of 
Canada,  and  Lord  Bexley  and  sister;  all  most  agreeable. 
Came  home  at  eleven.  Thus  ends  the  month  of  April.  I 
cannot  better  conclude  it  than  by  inserting  here  the  following 
note  from  Mr.  Stevenson  to  Mr.  Pratt :  — 

"'No.  4  George  Street,  April,  1824. 
"'Rev.  Sir:  — 

"  '  I  have  enclosed  fifteen  pounds  for  the  worthy  purpose  to 
which  you  desired  my  assistance.  I  read  the  Appeal  with 
tears  of  approbation,  and  at  the  same  time  pity  for  the  situ- 
ation of  that  truly  apostolic  Bishop  and  his  flock.  Indeed, 
I  feel  inclined  to  give  much  more,  but  I  cannot  afford  it  at 
present.  The  donations  of  last  year  have  left  me  nothing 
beforehand ;  my  heart  went  with  them  at  the  time,  and  ever 
since.  May  the  Lord  prosper  all  such  pious  undertakings,  and 
make  our  Church  the  praise  and  glory  of  the  world.  I  shall 
always  be  ready,  as  far  as  I  am  able,  to  contribute  my  mite  to 


352  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

the  good  cause.     I  hope  friends  will  be  raised  up,  from  time  to 
time,  to  contribute  to  such  pious  purposes. 

"'•I  am,  reverend  sir,  your  respectful,  humble  servant, 

"  'K.  Stevenson.'  " 

If  the  author  of  the  above  note  shed  tears  at  reading  the 
Appeal,  the  writer  of  this  memoir  had  reason  to  shed  many  at 
reading  what  he  wrote,  accompanied  by  another  letter,  some 
time  after  received  from  this  same  Mr.  K.  Stevenson.  They 
were  both  enclosed  in  a  letter,  and  sent  by  Mr.  Pratt,  of  Lon- 
don, to  show  what  faith  is ;  what  simplicity  and  godly  sin- 
cerity are ;  and  how  deeply,  when  in  exercise,  they  affect  the 
human  heart.  England  is  not  made  great  by  her  immense 
wealth,  uselessly  spent,  but  by  her  primitive  Christian  benevo- 
lence in  spreading  the  gospel  throughout  the  world.  In  this 
way  she  is  the  glory  of  all  lands,  and  has  done  more  than  all 
the  Protestant  world  put  together. 

Read  this  note  also,  and  see  how  this  is  done:  — 

" George  St.,  Hampstead  Road,  Oct,  1824. 
"  Reverend  Sir  :  — 

"With  pleasure  I  enclose  thirty-five  pounds,  to  make  up 
the  fifty  which  I  wished  to  give  towards  Bishop  Chase's  semi- 
nary, but  could  not  spare  the  money  when  you  wrote  to  me  in 
April.  However,  I  determined  not  to  forget  the  worthy  pre- 
late, when  it  was  in  my  power  to  give  something  more. 
"I  am,  reverend  sir,  yours  respectfully, 

"  K.  Stevenson.' ' 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

MUNIFICENCE  OF  LADY  ROSSE  —  JOURNAL  CONTINUED  —  LORD  KENYON 

DR.  GASKIN BISHOPS  OF  ST.  ASAPH'S,  CHESTER,  AND  DURHAM 

REMARKABLE  RECEPTION  BY  THE  LATTER  —  CHRISTIAN  BENEVOLENT 

SOCIETIES STRONG    TESTIMONY    IN    FAVOR    OF    THE    CHURCH    OF 

ENGLAND    LITURGY. 

Soon  after  the  writer's  interview,  some  time  ago,  with  that 
worthy  daughter  of  a  Bishop,  Miss  Duff  Macfarlane,  he  had 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  353 

ventured  to  address  by  letter  the  Rt.  Hon.  Countess  Dowager 
of  Rosse,  at  Stretton  Hall,  near  Wolverhampton,  and  this  was 
preceded,  he  thinks,  by  the  Appeal  and  a  letter  from  the  good 
young  lady  mentioned.  The  result  of  this  was  a  donation  of 
two  hundred  pounds  to  the  Ohio  cause,  and  subsequently  one 
hundred  pounds  as  a  donation  to  himself.  The  letters  (all 
that  have  been  preserved)  touching  this  subject  are  as  fol- 
low:— 

u  Stretton  Hall,  near  Wolverhampton,  April  26,  1824. 
"  Before  Lady  Rosse  had  the  honor  and  pleasure  of  receiv- 
ing the  worthy  Bishop  of  Ohio's  very  kind  letter,  she  had 
written  an  order  to  her  banker  to  pay  into  Messrs.  Hoare's 
bank  one  hundred  pounds  for  the  Rt.  Rev.  prelate,  which  she 
hopes  he  will  honor  her  by  accepting.  The  great  sacrifice 
which  he  has  made  of  ease  and  comfort,  almost  of  health  and 
life,  as  well  as  his  property,  made  her  take  this  liberty.  She 
rejoices  greatly  that  there  is  one  able  and  so  willing  to  pro- 
mote true  religion  where  it  is  so  much  wanting,  and  is  most 
anxious  for  his  success  and  the  recovery  of  his  good  son.  Her 
wish  to  be  informed  of  this,  and  if  there  are  any  ideas  of  build- 
ing or  constructing  in  any  way  places  of  worship  or  churches 
in  his  diocese,  has  induced  Lady  R.  to  trouble  him  with  this 
letter,  that  she  may  learn  from  the  best  authority  if  she  can 
have  the  pleasure  of  assisting  in  it,  or  any  ways  promoting 
that  true  religion  which  he  professes,  and  which  she  fears, 
greatly  fears,  is  likely  to  be  taken  from  poor  Ireland  through 
mistaken  policy.  If  religion  is  destroyed  in  one  country,  its 
rising  fast  in  another  is  cheering,  and  must  make  one  doubly 
interested  for  this  'rose  in  the  west,'  that  persecuted  Irish 
Protestants  may  benefit  by  it." 

The  following  is  the  writer's  answer :  — 

11  No.  10  Feather  stone  buildings,  May  1,  1824. 
"Dear  Lady  :  — 

"Your  Ladyship's  note  of  the  26th  ult.  was  handed  to  me 
on  my  arrival  in  town  from  a  short  excursion  into  Leicester- 
shire.    By  this  note,  and  one  shown  me  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 

30* 


354  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

Pratt,  I  am  informed  your  Ladyship  has  added  to  a  former 
donation  of  two  hundred  pounds  to  the  theological  seminary 
of  Ohio,  that  of  one  hundred  pounds  to  myself,  for  my  own 
personal  benefit. 

"Such  instances  of  benevolence  are  seldom  found,  and  my 
heart  swells  with  an  indescribable  feeling  of  gratitude,  when  I 
know  your  goodness  is  exercised  from  the  purest  motives 
towards  our  infant  Church  in  the  western  wilderness.  But  at 
the  same  time  that  I  accept  with  all  gratitude  your  Ladyship's 
bounty,  I  beg  leave  to  give  my  reasons  why  I  could  wish  to 
make  an  application  of  the  last  one  hundred  pounds  somewhat 
different  from  that  mentioned  by  your  Ladyship.  Instead  of 
using  this  for  my  own  personal  benefit,  I  could  wish  your 
Ladyship's  consent  that  it  might  be  applied  towards  the  erec- 
tion of  a  modest  yet  convenient  chapel  for  the  use  of  the  semi- 
nary. And  here  a  thought  strikes  me  with  so  much  pleasure 
that  I  entreat  your  Ladyship  will  not  forbid  its  indulgence  — 
that  the  chapel  may  be  called  after  the  name  of  the  donor. 

"If  I  be  asked  why  I  refuse  to  have  this  applied  to  my 
personal  benefit,  I  have  some  things  to  say,  which,  duly  to 
appreciate,  wants  order  of  expression  more  than  sincerity  in 
utterance. 

"  Having  given  up  all  my  earthly  substance  to  the  promo- 
tion of  the  prosperity  of  the  Church  in  the  west,  I  tremble  at 
the  thought  of  keeping  a  separate  purse.  My  expenses  will  be 
borne  out  of  the  public  fund,  and  for  the  comfort  of  my  family 
I  have  lately  received  such  assurances  from  Ohio,  excited  by 
the  sympathy  of  God's  people,  that  I  can  have  little  doubt 
they  will  do  all  that  is  necessary  to  keep  both  myself  and  dear 
family  in  all  due  comfort.  As  the  head  of  the  contemplated 
institution,  I  shall  have  what  is  necessary.  My  friends  also 
in  New  York  will,  I  trust,  do  something  to  relieve  present 
wants,  before  the  funds,  according  to  specified  forms,  can  be 
drawn  for.  Why  then  should  I  entangle  myself  again  with 
self?  I  bade  farewell  to  this  principle  when  I  gave  up  my 
estate  in  Ohio.  Small  as  it  is,  it  was  given,  I  trust,  with  a 
single  eye  to  God's  glory.  And  beholding  my  family  provided 
for  in  the  affections  of  my  people,  I  feel  a  relief  in  being  thus 
separated  from  the  world,  which  I  want  words  to  express. 


bishop  chase's  reminiscences.  355 

u  But  your  Ladyship's  present  comes  most  opportunely,  if 
not  to  relieve  my  own,  yet  the  wants  of  our  dear  seminary. 
This,  as  observed,  will  need  a  chapel,  and  that  soon;  and 
though  the  sum,  the  use  of  which  I  am  now  considering,  may 
seem  small  in  your  Ladyship's  eyes,  yet  with  us  it  will  be 
great  indeed.  It  will  lay  the  foundation  on  which,  encouraged 
by  this  munificent  example,  others  may  be  disposed  to  erect 
and  complete  the  edifice.  Methinks  I  see  this  lovely  spectacle 
rise  to  my  view,  and  quickly  filled  with  devout  worshippers 
from  the  c  sons  of  the  soil,'  all  in  successful  training  for  future 
ministers  of  the  blessed  gospel  of  salvation.  Amidst  our  wild 
woods,  where  so  lately  were  heard  only  the  war-whoop  of  the 
savage  and  the  howlings  of  the  forest  wolf,  will  be  sung  the 
sweet  songs  of  Zion,  mellowed  by  the  controlling  power  of  the 
pealing  organ.  Blessed  sight!  more  to  be  prized,  even  in 
prospect,  than  all  the  world,  as  such,  can  bestow. 

"It  is  due  to  your  Ladyship  not  only  to  answer  the  inqui- 
ries specified  in  the  note,  but  to  give  all  the  information  in  my 
power  concerning  the  state  and  prospects  of  the  infant  Church, 
which  your  Ladyship  is  so  graciously  patronizing.  To  this 
end  I  shall  send  perhaps  with  this  (if  not,  soon)  some  other 
papers. 

".In  the  mean  time,  I  am  most  gratefully  your  Lady  ship's 
faithful  and  humble  friend  and  servant, 

"Philander  Chase." 

The  record  proceeds  as  follows  :  — 

"MAY  1,  1S24. 

11  Breakfasted  with  Mr.  Marriott.  Called  on  Mr.  Thornton. 
Wrote  a  letter  that  I  Will  dine  with  Mr.  Butterworth  on  the 
5th.  To  Dr.  Gaskin,  that  I  will  attend  Church  at  Stoke  New- 
ington  to-morrow. 

"  Dr.  Stuart,  of  Canada,  called ;  said  he  had  harbored  objec- 
tions to  the  Ohio  cause,  but  was  now  convinced  of  its  right- 
eousness. How  deep  had  the  root  of  prejudice  struck,  and  how 
far  and  wide  had  it  ramified  !  When  will  it  be  eradicated? 
Perhaps  not  for  generations. 

"  Lord  Kenyon  having  returned  to  town,  at  half  past  eight, 


356  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

P.  M.j  I  took  a  coach  and  went  to  see  him  at  his  residence, 
No.  9  Portman  square,  and  a  kind  and  free  reception  he  gave 
me.  How  different  from  moneyed  aristocracy  is  educated 
nobility !  Besides,  Lord  Kenyon  is  a  true  Christian.  His 
faith  is  that  once  delivered  to  the  saints,  not  of  modern  date ; 
and  his  life  is  answerable  to  his  Christian  profession.  He  was 
educated  by  the  Rev.  Wm.  Jones,  of  Nay  land." 

"SUNDAY,  MAY  2. 

"  Being  rainy,  I  went  in  a  hack  to  Stoke  Newington,  and 
attended  Church  with  good  Dr.  Gaskin — heard  him  preach 
and  received  the  blessed  sacrament  at  his  hands.  His  text 
was,  —  'Hold  fast  the  form  of  sound  words.'  Such  a  form 
was  doubtless  drawn  up  by  the  apostles,  which  in  the  end  was 
substituted  by  the  apostles'  creed.  Liturgies  were  in  ancient 
use.  There  never  was  a  time  till  lately,  that  Christians  did 
not  use  them  in  public  worship.  The  English  liturgy  is  now 
the  '  form  of  sound  words,'  and  proves  the  apostolic  character 
of  the  Church.  Being  according  to  God's  word,  and  designed 
to  preserve  that  word,  which  is  the  truth,  as  the  vessel  pre- 
serves the  oil  which  it  holds,  every  man  is  bound  in  conscience 
to  l  hold  fast  and  adhere  to  the  liturgy  by  the  precept  in  the 
text' 

"In  hearing  such  a  man,  and  of  such  profound  learning, 
come  out  so  boldly  in  favor  of  the  truth,  and  in  communing 
with  him  in  the  sacrament,  and.  mingling  souls  together  in  the 
worship  and  praise  of  God,  there  was  inexpressible  delight. 
Dr.  Gaskin  is  a  man  of  unshaken  integrity,  and  hates  all 
species  of  manoeuvring ;  and  in  following  his  judgment  and 
feelings  in  this  respect,  he  can  detect  the  sinister  proceedings 
better  than  most  men.  There  had  been  unwearied  endeavors 
by  Mr.  X ,  to  convince  the  Dr.  that  there  was  an  '  exclu- 
sive right,'  vested  '  somehow  or  another,'  in  a  certain  body  in 
New  York,  to  ask  alms  of,  alias  'present  claims'  to,  the  Eng- 
lish Church  and  nation ;  but  the  Dr.  could  not  find  it  in  the 
constitution  or  canons  of  the  American  Church;  and  then 
boldly  said,  there  was,  and  consistently  with  the  rights  of 
dioceses  and  individuals  there  could  be,  no  such  thing.  This 
honest  opinion  cut  the  whole  '  snarV  of  the  argument  in  pieces, 
and  left  Mr.  X without  support." 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  357 

"  MAY  3. 

"  Breakfasted  at  G.  W.  Marriott's  ;  present,  Miss  Duff  Mac- 
farlane,  and  Miss  Smith,  her  friend.  Read  a  letter  I  had 
received  from  good  Mr.  Morse,  of  Ohio ;  all  delighted  with  its 
contents.  Talked  much  of  Lady  Rosse  and  her  singular 
excellence. 

"  At  eleven  o'clock,  according  to  appointment,  went  to  Port- 
man  square.  Lord  K.  glad  to  see  me;  said  he  had  been 
giving  the  subject  of  Ohio,  and  of  the  present  efforts  to  relieve 
her  wants,  a  thorough  examination,  and  had  become  not  only 
convinced,  but  highly  interested ;  and  that  he  would  consent 
that  his  name  should  be  added  to  the  number  of  my  trustees. 
He  then  accompanied  me,  without  a  coach,  in  the  rain,  to  the 
residence  of  the  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph's.  A  map  was  spread 
before  this  good  man — a  very  necessary  item  in  forming  a 
right  judgment  on  the  merits  of  the  Ohio  cause.  His  Lordship 
desired  some  Appeals  might  be  sent  him.  Lord  K.  then 
accompanied  me  to  the  Bishop  of  Chester's.  This  prelate 
wanted  information  on  the  subject  of  Ohio.  Lord  K.  had  to 
c  demonstrate '  that  I  was  not  a  schismatic,  and  this  was  done ; 
the  conversation  was  free,  and  all  aid  promised. 

"We  then  proceeded  to  Cavendish  square,  the  residence  of 
the  Bishop  of  Durham.  Here  Lord  K.  left  me,  as  I  had 
already  been  introduced  to  this  good  prelate.  He  is  ninety- 
one  years  old,  yet  well  and  cheerful ;  said  he  was  glad  to  see 
me  again ;  had  subscribed  to  the  joint  fund  for  New  York  and 
Connecticut  fifty  pounds,  and  would  give  to  Ohio  one  hundred 
pounds,  and  thank  God  that  he  had  seen  me.  This  he  said 
with  tears,  in  alluding  to  what  was  observed  in  the  Appeal, 
and  in  refusing  Lady  Rosse's  personal  present,  and  applying 
it  to  the  purposes  of  the  contemplated  seminary.  He  first 
asserted  that  by  so  doing  I  had  refused  to  •  provide  for  my 
own  household,'  and  had  thus  incurred  the  apostolic  censure 
of  one  '  denying  the  faith,  and  becoming  worse  than  an  infi- 
del.' Being  uttered  in  evident  good  humor,  the  fact  was 
denied,  and  the  assertion  made,  that  there  was,  or  had  been, 
provision  made.  When  asked  what  provision,  the  answer 
was,  '  Better  than  that  on  which  your  Lordship  depends. 
Your  Lordship  relies  on  the  obligations  of  the  Bank  of  Eng- 


358  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

land :  I  would  fain  depend  on  the  divine  promises.  "  Jehovah- 
jireh,  God  will  provide." '  Bishop  Barrington  was  exceedingly 
affected  at  this,  and  taking  me  by  the  hand,  said,  '  God  bless 
you  for  this ;  I  will  give  you  an  hundred  pounds.  I  thank 
God  that  you  have  come  to  England.' 

"  When  I  mentioned  to  him  my  intention  of  going  into  Ire- 
land, he  said  that,  though  at  his  time  of  life  he  wrote  with 
great  difficulty,  he  would  give  me  a  letter  of  introduction  to 
the  Archbishop  of  Dublin,  M'Gee.  When  I  went  away  he 
said  he  would  always  be  glad  to  see  me.  Many  other  things 
he  said  to  me,  which  to  relate  here  would  be  improper,  as  they 
expressed  his  commendation  of  me,  and  on  this  score  I  fear  I 
have  already  said  more  than  is  right. 

"  Came  home  at  two.  Found  a  letter  from  Rev.  Mr.  Os- 
borne, of  Edisto  Island,  South  Carolina,  once  my  presbyter. 
It  is  entirely  approbatory  of  my  coming  to  England.  Having 
lived  in  the  west,  and  taken  a  view  of  the  whole  case,  he  is 
esteemed  a  good  judge.  He  alludes  to  Philander' s  death  in 
Charleston. 

"  Drank  tea  with  Mr.  Pratt.  Went  with  him  to  Church  at 
St.  Brides'.  Himself  read  prayers.  Heard  an  excellent 
Church  missionary  sermon.  Had  much  conversation  with 
Lord  Gambier  in  the  vestry-room,  and  he  brought  me  in  his 
carriage  to  my  lodgings." 

Did  ever  one  see  a  child  who  had  been  harshly  treated  when 
very  young,  rising  into  favor  by  sheer  modesty,  coupled  with 
an  obedient  and  faithful  discharge  of  all  her  duties  1  Such 
was  the  Church  Missionary  Society.  The  more  she  was 
frowned  on,  the  more  cheerful  obedience  she  manifested ;  and 
the  more  she  was  accused  of  want  of  duty  to  her  mother,  the 
Church,  the  more  zeal  she  discovered  in  her  cause,  and  the 
closer  she  clung  to  her  maternal  bosom. 

The  anniversary  of  this  growing  and  most  useful  society 
took  place  on  the  4th  of  May.  The  writer  of  this  memoir  was 
present,  but,  for  want  of  ability  to  speak  off  hand  in  so  great  an 
assembly,  took  no  part  in  the  addresses.  It  might  have  given 
strength  to  his  cause  to  have  done  so ;  but  God  hath  his  own 
way  of  giving  success  to  his  purposes,  and  often  the  only  evi- 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  359 

dence  that  he  is  the  author  of  mercies  appears  in  the  nothing- 
ness of  the  instrument  which  brings  them.  Lord  Gambier 
presided,  and  the  Rev.  Josiah  Pratt  was  secretary.  They 
have  now  both  gone  to  their  reward,  in  the  presence  of  their 
heavenly  Master.  Does  the  soul  of  the  former,  or  the  faithful 
heart  of  the  latter,  regret  that  they  were  made  the  honored 
instruments  of  so  much  good  in  spreading  the  gospel  of  salva- 
tion through  the  world  1  Surely  they  will  be  numbered  with 
those  whom  Jesus  will  delight  to  honor  in  the  presence  of  his 
Father  and  the  holy  angels. 

The  next  day,  the  5th  of  May,  was  the  meeting  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society ;  Lord  Teignmouth  in  the 
chair.  Dr.  Morrison,  just  from  China,  was  there  also,  and 
with  him  stepped  on  the  platform  his  little  son,  bearing  the 
volumes  of  the  Holy  Bible  translated  into  that  language, 
spoken,  it  is  said,  by  three  hundred  million  souls.  This  glori- 
ous work  had  cost  him  the  labor  of  seventeen  years.  Before 
the  meeting  closed,  and  after  many  of  the  most  eloquent 
speeches,  the  Earl  of  Roden  narrated,  in  the  most  unaffected 
manner,  his  own  impressions  of  the  importance  of  the  Bible 
cause.  His  having  witnessed  what  others  were  doing  to 
spread  the  Bible,  had  led  him  to  think  of  the  utility  of  the 
sacred  Scriptures  to  his  own  soul.  If  its  truths  were  necessary 
to  others,  how  could  he  be  unaffected  by  them  and  be  happy? 
All  this  was  told  in  the  form  of  biography,  which  was  so 
ingeniously  contrived  as  to  lead  to  no  suspicion  that  his  Lord- 
ship was  himself  the  subject  of  his  own  story  till  the  end  ; 
and  when  this  was  discovered,  the  whole  audience  were  in 
tears. 

Another  heart-stirring  scene  was  presented  in  the  sudden 
and  unexpected  contrast  between  two  admirals,  who  having 
commanded  mighty  fleets,  each  in  behalf  of  his  country  respec- 
tively, dealing  death  and  destruction  at  the  cannon's  mouth, 
now  met  in  peace,  to  promote  each  other's  welfare,  and  that 
of  the  souls  of  men.  All  this  the  effect  of  the  word  of  God 
and  the  Gospel  of  reconciliation.  The  French  admiral  alluded 
to  this  in  his  written  speech,  and  as  he  did  so,  the  writer  saw 
the  tears  flow  down  the  cheeks  of  ffood  Lord  Gambier. 


360  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

After  this  meeting,  the  writer  dined  with  Dr.  Morrison,  at 
good  Mr.  Butterworth's.  The  number  of  gentlemen  present 
was  twenty-five ;  after  which  there  was  family  worship.  The 
Scriptures  were  read  and  the  collects  repeated  by  the  writer. 

In  attending  the  meeting  of  the  Prayer  Book  and  Homily 
Society,  on  the  6th,  Lord  Bexley  in  the  chair,  the  same  Dr. 
Morrison  presented  his  translation  of  the  "  Book  of  Common 
Prayer,"  in  the  Chinese  language.  In  doing  this  he  remarked, 
"  that  though  bred  a  Presbyterian,  and  as  such,  from  his  youth, 
prejudiced  against  a  liturgy,  yet  when  in  China  his  conscience 
told  him  to  lay  down  his  enmity  to  so  good  a  book ;  for,  after 
a  due  examination,  having  seen  its  purity  and  holy  purpose, 
he  was  fully  of  the  opinion  that  no  other  book  came  so  near 
the  Bible,  and  no  other  book  could  he  translate  which  would 
bring  the  Holy  Scriptures  more  effectually  into  saving  use  in 
the  hearts  of  the  Chinese."  This  the  writer  thought  a  strong 
testimony  in  favor  of  the  liturgy  of  the  Church  of  England ; 
and,  added  to  the  fact  of  the  translation  of  the  prayer  book 
into  all  languages,  it  shows  that  God  has  made  it  the  means 
of  preserving  in  its  purity  the  features  of  Christ  in  the  earth, 
till  his  second  coming. 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 

JOURNAL     CONTINUED  — A    NEW     OPPONENT  —  VARIOUS     SCENES     AND 
INCIDENTS  —  LETTER    OF   REV.    JAMES   DALLIN. 

"FRIDAY,  MAY  7. 

"  A  new  opponent,  a  layman;  has  arisen,  being,  as  is  sup- 
posed, the  agent  of  certain  disappointed  persons.     The  initials 

of  his  name  are  J.  W .     Lord  Kenyon  tells  me  he  is  doing 

the  cause  of  Ohio  much  harm;  says  that  Dr.  Gaskin  must 
write  to  his  friends  in  Cambridge,  and  see  that  in  my  visit 
thither  this  Mr.  J.  W does  not  poison  the  minds  of  many. 

"  His  Lordship  then  conducted  me  to  the  Central  National 
School,  on  entering  which  his  Lordship  immediately  betook 
himself  to  the  task  of  teaching.     Never  was  there  a  more 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  361 

striking  exemplification  of  Christian  humility.  An  English 
peer,  remarkable  for  his  good  sense  and  dignity  of  manners, 
now  on  a  level  with  babes,  teaching  them  the  first  principles, 
yea,  the  very  elements,  of  human  and  divine  learning,  strength- 
ening the  feeble,  encouraging  the  timid,  and  by  his  smiles  and 
kindness  of  maimer,  making  all  to  love  him  ! 

"  Attended  the  meeting  of  the  Society  for  the  Conversion  of 
the  Jews,  Sir  Thomas  Baring  in  the  chair.  When  the  busi- 
ness was  closed,  Mr.  Pratt  accompanied  me  to  dine  with  Lord 
Bexley.  Bishops  of  St.  David's,  Litchfield,  and  Coventry, 
were  present,  with  others.  Piety,  civility,  and  good  sense, 
were  manifest  in  all  that  was  said  and  done  by  these  English 
worthies. 

"The  following  note  was  this  day  left  on  my  table  from 
Dr.  G  a  skin  :  — 

"  <  May  7,  1824. 

"  '  My  Dear  Bishop  :  — 

"  'I  return  to  you  the  enclosed,  because  it  is  probable  you 
may  want  it.  I  have  written,  on  Lord  Kenyon's  suggestion, 
to  our  Dean  of  Ely,  who  is  master  of  St.  John's  college, 
Cambridge,  and  to  Dr.  Wordsworth,  the  master  of  Trinity. 
Whether  my  letters  will  be  of  any  use  to  you  I  cannot  say, 
but  you  know  I  have  your  cause  at  heart,  because  I  believe  it 
to  be  the  cause  of  God  and  his  Church. 

"  c  I  wish  I  had  a  few  more  copies  of  the  Appeal  for  Ohio. 
If  they  are  left  at  Bartlet  buildings  for  me  I  shall  get  them. 
They  ought  to  be  well  circulated  at  Cambridge. 

"  '  In  great  haste,  I  remain,  my  dear  Bishop,  truly  and 
respectfully  yours,  Geo.  Gaskin.' 

"  MAY  8. 

"Breakfasted  with  Lord  Kcnyon,  and  accompanied  him  to 
the  Clergy  Orphan  Asylum,  where  his  Lordship  is  at  once  the 
teacher  and  the  friend  of  these  interesting  orphans.  It  may 
be  truly  said  of  this  pious  and  dignified  nobleman,  as  it  was 
said  of  a  Grecian  king,  (He  is  like  the  sun  in  its  evening 
declension  ;  lie  emits  his  splendor,  though  he  retains  his  mag- 
nitude.' 

"At  three  P.  M.  called  on  Mr.  Pratt,  who  mentioned  the 

31 


362  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

opposition  of  Mr.  J.  W as  a  violation  of  the  agreement, 

and  said  '  that  if  he  (Mr.  Pratt)  were  one  of  the  parties,  he 
should  withdraw  his  name  from  the  copartnership  and  sub- 
scription on  the  ground  of  a  breach  of  promise.' 

"  Mr.  G.  W.  Marriott,  having  been  collated  as  chancellor  of 
the  diocese  of  St.  David's  this  day,  accompanied  me  to  Green- 
wich, and  while  on  the  way  showed  me  a  MS.  letter  from  J. 

W ,  calling  his  (Mr.  M.'s)  attention  to  a  pamphlet  which 

had  lately  arrived  from  New  York.  Arrived  at  Mr.  Mat- 
thews'. Dined  at  six;  present,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stowe,  and  Dr. 
Burney,  the  Greek  scholar,  with  whom  I  agreed  to  dine  this 
day  week,  with  the  Bishop  of  Oxford.  Rode  home,  and  read 
the  pamphlet  from  New  York.  The  writer  is  mistaken  in 
almost  everything.  This  will  do  the  theological  seminary  in 
New  York  great  harm." 

"  MAY  9. 

"Mr.  Stowe,  though  he  resides  at  Greenwich,  is  warden  of 
'St.  Mary's  at  Hill,'  in  the  old  city  of  London.  As  appointed 
yesterday,  he  called  on  me  this  morning  and  took  me  to  that 
church.  The  Rev.  Legh  Richmond  preached  on  the  conver- 
sion of  the  Jews,  a  favorite  theme  with  him ;  an  excellent  dis- 
course. In  the  afternoon  I  attended  St.  Andrew's,  Holborji. 
The  rector,  Rev.  Mr.  Barresford,  took  me  to  the  parsonage. 
Has  a  lovely  wife  and  nine  children. 

"  What  renders  this  visit  memorable  is,  that  he  told  me  that 
when  dining  with  the  Bishop  of  London  he  had  much  conver- 
sation with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ward,  an  old  and  dear  friend  of 
Jones,  of  Nayland,  who  wished  to  see  me.  His  address  is 
'  Great  Horkesley,  near  Colchester.'  On  returning  home, 
found  a  note  from  Mr.  Marriott,  wishing  to  see  me  at  Dr.  Gas- 
kin's,  with  which  I  complied.  The  Dr.  very  kind ;  warm  in 
the  Ohio  cause  ;  has  engaged  several  to  befriend  it.  He  will 
go  soon  to  Ely,  and  make  many  friends  there. 

"  An  English  nobleman  said  that  on  the  8th  of  May  he  had 
dined  with  a  number  of  persons  at  Lambeth,  and  that  Mr. 

X acknowledged  he  had  turned  Bishop  Chase  out  of 

doors  when  he  first  came  to  London,  yet  owned  that  his  cause 
was  a  good  one  in  the  abstract.     The  violence  and  absurdity 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  363 

of  this  conduct  was  not  approved  of,  but  pointedly  condemned, 
and  the  cause  of  Ohio  had  gained  friends  by  it" 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  of  the  Rev.  Charles 
Fy  vie,  of  Inverness,  to  his  friend  in  London :  — 

"1  received  your  packet  with  the  Appeal  yesterday,  and  to 
say  I  was  pleased  with  it  is  to  say  little.  I  was  surprised  and 
delighted;  it  made  me  at  once  close  with  Bishop  Chase's 
views,  notwithstanding  all  I  had  heard.  This  morning  I 
looked  over  again  the  British  Critic  for  May  and  June  last 

year,  which  has  confirmed  this  impression.     Of  Bishop 's 

views  I  have  never  been  able  to  learn  more  than  this,  viz., 
that  they  are  in  opposition  to  Bishop  Chase's,  and  that  Bishop 
Chase  is  wrong ;  which  in  my  mind  amounts  to  nothing.     I 

have  questioned ,  who,  you  know,  admires  Bishop 

so  much,  but  could  hear  nothing  at  all  to  the  purpose. 

"  Bishop  C.'s  zeal  is  without  any  mixture  of  fanaticism — 
I  do  not  say  enthusiasm,  for  in  one  sense  we  ought  all  to  be 
enthusiasts.  What  he  says  of  the  young  men  being  educated 
in  Ohio,  and  all  the  reasons,  brings  the  recollection  of  facts 
with  which  we  are  all  acquainted.  The  fervency  of  his  ex- 
pressions is  extremely  natural,  and  breathes  the  spirit  of 
primitive  times.  The  anger  that  I  suspect  exists  is  mysteri- 
ous, and  it  will  not  bear  a  third,  scarcely  a  second,  question. 
I  am  particularly  obliged  to  you  for  sending  me  the  Appeal. 
If  you  have  a  copy  of  my  sermon  remaining,  pray  give  it  to 
Bishop  Chase  as  from  a  clergyman  '  beyond  the  mountains,' 
who  has  read  and  feels  his  Appeal.  Mr.  Mackenzie  has  just 
read  it.     I  never  saw  him  in  such  raptures  with  anything." 

The  writer  to  his  noble  benefactress :  — 

" '  No.  10  Feathers/one  bid/dings,  ) 
Holhnrii.  May  11,   1804  \ 

"My  Dkak  liADY  Rosse:  — 

"1  h.-m-  thought  of  your  Ladyship's  kindness  BO  much  that 
I  feel  ;uit!i orised  to  begin  my  letter  with  mow  tender  expres- 
sions than  any  otbez  circumstances  would  justify.  On  Miss 
Macfjurlane  1  depended  to  make  some  extracti  and  Bend  to 


364  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

your  Ladyship,  which  might  in  a  small  degree  fulfil  your  kind 
inquiries  concerning  the  state  of  the  churches  in  Ohio. 

"  We  have  now  four  brick  churches  and  four  built  of  wood, 
besides  the  top,  or  upper  stories,  of  seven  academies  or  school- 
houses.  In  all  the  other  parishes  the  worshippers  are  obliged 
to  meet  in  court-houses,  or  places  built  for  the  administration 
of  justice,  and  in  private  dwellings.  In  a  new  country  we  are 
obliged  to  commence  in  this  way,  or  not  at  all.  If  the  house 
be  too  small,  as  often  is  the  case,  to  hold  the  congregations,  we 
repair  to  a  shady  wood  to  perform  the  sacred  offices.  And 
though  this  may  appear  indecorous  and  somewhat  profane  in 
a  country  where  the  churches  and  means  of  grace  are  so  abun- 
dant, yet  I  will  assure  your  Ladyship  we  feel  the  fullest  trust 
that,  while  the  measure  is  a  matter  of  necessity,  God  accepts 
our  services  through  Jesus  Christ.  Jacob  found  God  in  the 
wild  wood,  though  at  first  he  'knew  it  not,'  and  there  he 
made  a  covenant  with  the  Lord  God  of  his  father  Abraham ; 
he  promising  obedience  and  the  Jehovah  promising  a  blessing. 
The  apostles  also  preached  in  'upper  rooms,'  and  prayed 
while  they  knelt  on  the  sea-shore.  These  are  examples  wor- 
thy of  our  imitation,  when  situated,  as  we  are,  in  similar  neces- 
sity. But  we  hope  the  day  is  approaching  when  we  shall  see 
better  things. 

"Should  God  be  pleased  to  prosper  our  present  work,  we 
trust  the  wilderness  will  soon  be  glad,  bud  and  blossom  like 
the  rose.  When  I  think  how  'God  hath  hitherto  helped'  — 
how  out  of  nothing  so  great  a  thing  has  come  to  pass  as  that 
a  diocese  has  been  framed,  twenty-nine  parishes  instituted, 
and  other  flocks  gathered  from  among  the  scattered  lambs  in 
the  woods;  when  I  think  what  hunger  and  thirst  after  right- 
eousness have  been,  by  the  good  Spirit,  either  created  or  kept 
alive,  almost  with  no  means ; — my  soul  doth  bless  God  and 
take  courage;  no  difficulties  seem  too  great  to  surmount;  a 
highway  will  be  made  in  the  desert ;  we  shall  run  and  not  be 
weary,  we  shall  walk  and  not  faint.  The  fields  being  white 
unto  harvest,  God  will  send  forth  laborers,  and  His  garner 
shall  be  full  of  the  flour  of  wheat.  To  be  an  instrument  in 
accomplishing  this  most  blessed  work,  is  my  greatest  joy;  a 
joy  which  I  would  not  exchange  for  the  brightest  diadem. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  365 

"  I  was  speaking  in  this  way  to  the  Bishop  of  Durham, 
when  his  Lordship  approved  of  my  words,  and  observed  that 
he  thanked  God  that  he  had  lived  to  see  me.  This  was  a 
great  honor  to  be  thus  noticed  by  so  good  a  man ;  and  while 
I  cannot  disguise  that  I  am  sensible  of  this  honor,  yet  I  would 
always  place  this  and  all  other  instances  of  God's  favor  at  the 
foot  of  the  cross. 

"  Pardon  me,  dear  Lady,  for  thus  familiarly  addressing 
you,  and  be  assured  of  my  unfeigned  gratitude  and  esteem, 
while  I  am  always  your  Ladyship's  faithful  servant  and  hum- 
ble friend,  Philander  Chase." 

"MAY  II. 

"Many  persons  called;  much  talk  about  the  New  York 
letter.  Those  whom  it  was  designed  to  aid  are  most  desirous 
that  it  should  be  suppressed  !  The  confused  state  of  opinion 
in  relation  to  me  at  Oxford  was  mentioned.    A  pamphlet  from 

Mr.  X has  found  its  way  thither.     The  well-informed 

regret,  and  the  prejudiced  rejoice.  Robert  Caldicott's  letter  to 
his  uncle,  G.  W.  M.,  makes  mention  of  this,  and  prays  for  cor- 
rect information.  Mr.  Greswell  is  a  great  friend  of  the  Ohio 
cause  in  Oxford. 

"  Dined  by  invitation  with  Lord  Barham ;  Lord  Gambier, 
and  Mr.  George  Sanford,  of  Bristol,  were  present." 

"MAY  12. 

"Dined  to-day  with  the  venerable  Bishop  of  Durham; 
present,  the  Bishop  of  St.  David's,  and  the  two  Mr.  Duncans, 
of  New  College,  Oxford.  The  conversation  was  at  once 
learned,  pious  and  cheerful;  at  times  like  the  majestic  flow 
of  a  deep  river,  strong  and  peaceful :  at  others,  more  swift, 
exl i! biting  the  transient  rainbow  sprays  of  wit  and  humor. 
The  aged  patriarch,  the  father  of  the  English  bench  of  Bish- 
ops, more  than  ninety  years  of  age,  is  now  standing  on  the 
banks  of  Jordan,  ready,  it  is  hoped,  quite  ready,  at  a  word  to 
pass  through  'the  swelling  flood'  to  the  shores  of  blessedness. 
He  takes,  more  and  more,  an  interest  in  the  Ohio  cause." 

"MAY  13. 

"Mr.   W.,   my  excellent    Manchester    friend,   has   arrived 


366  bishop   chase's  reminiscences. 

in  London.      His  bosom   still   glows  with  benevolence  for 
Ohio." 

"MAY  15. 

"Visited  yesterday  the  Central  School  with  Lord  Kenyon. 
At  three  called  on  the  Bishop  of  London,  who  has  subscribed 
to  the  Ohio  fund.     Dined  with  the  Marriotts ;  many  present. 

"  To-day  received  the  following  letter  from  the  Rev.  James 
Dallin.  Few  letters  during  the  course  of  my  life  are  more 
highly  esteemed,  and  few  have  done  more  good  by  a  general 
circulation  among  friends  :  — 

"  'Rudston,  near  Bridlington^  May  13,  1824. 
"  '  Rt.  Rev.  and  Very  Dear  Sir  :  — 

"  <  I  think  myself  much  obliged  and  honored  by  your  letter 
of  the  18th  ult,  containing  the  copy  of  Bishop  Bowen's  letter 
respecting  the  death  of  your  son,  both  of  which  have  been 
very  interesting  to  me,  and  all  your  friends  in  York.  As  a 
part  of  your  letter  related  to  our  most  excellent  friend  Mr. 
Gray,  sen.,  I  put  both  into  his  hands ;  and  as  he  expressed  an 
intention  of  writing  to  you,  I  delayed  my  reply  till  my  arrival 
at  this  place,  where  I  shall  stay  till  Thursday  in  next  week. 
Having  just  arrived,  I  sit  down  immediately  to  take  the  first 
opportunity  my  leisure  affords  to  express,  as  is  always  most 
grateful  to  me,  my  regard  and  respect  for  you,  and  the  sense 
I  entertain  of  the  bereavement  with  which  it  has  pleased 
Almighty  God  to  visit  you. 

"  '  Your  loss  is  to  appearance  very  great.  To  have  had  the 
assistance  of  such  a  son  as  has  been  taken  from  you,  in  the 
extensive  plans  which  you  have  formed  for  your  diocese, 
would  have  no  doubt  much  facilitated  their  execution.  But 
we  should  remember,  in  faith  and  patience,  that  Almighty 
God  has  his  own  ways  of  accomplishing  the  designs  which  he 
puts  it  into  the  hearts  of  his  servants  to  undertake  for  his 
name ;  and  then  ordinarily  most  effectually  promotes  them, 
when  all  outward  things  obstruct,  for  the  present,  their  exe- 
cution. I  cannot  but  hope  that  the  present  painful  visitation, 
so  unpromising,  may  turn  out  to  the  furtherance  of  the  gospel 
in  the  country  to  the  spiritual  good  of  which  you  have  de- 
voted all  the  energies  and  means  you  possess.     There  is  one 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  367 

laborer  less  in  your  part  of  Christ's  vineyard ;  but  how  know 
we  that  other  laborers  may  not  spring  up,  as  it  were,  from  his 
ashes,  incited  by  the  example  of  his  faith,  and  that  your 
present  clergy  may  be  cheered  and  invigorated  by  it  to  abound 
in  the  work  of  the  Lord  7 

'"To  them  it  must  be  a  subject  of  most  grateful  contempla- 
tion ;  and  to  true  Christians  in  general,  and  others  to  whom 
your  most  excellent  son  was  known,  his  death  may  preach 
more  powerfully  than  he  could  have  done  by  the  most  fervent 
discourses.  Some  Christians  are  appointed  to  glorify  and 
serve  God  by  their  lives,  and  some  by  their  deaths.  Bishop 
Bo  wen  writes,  "  to  us  all  it  has  been  a  most  interesting  and 
instructing  scene."  But  in  whatever  way  it  may  be,  I  doubt 
not  of  God's  accompanying  your  endeavors  with  his  blessing. 
Indeed,  he  is  doing  it,  and  I  hope  and  pray  that  he  will  con- 
tinue and  enlarge  his  goodness  to  you.  You  may  feel  bereft, 
and  as  in  a  wilderness,  for  the  present;  but  the  Divine  pres- 
ence and  blessing  will  do  more  for  your  comfort  than  the 
company  of  the  best  of  sons ;  the  temptations  to  which  you 
now  feel  yourself  more  than  ever  exposed,  that  aid  will  enable 
you  to  resist,  and  the  trials  and  sufferings  of  life  it  will  enable 
you  to  sustain.  How  reviving  is  the  recollection  of  the 
prophet's  description  of  the  goodness  of  God  in  past  ages,  now 
no  doubt  also  extended  to  his  faithful  servants  !  "  In  all  our 
afflictions  he  was  afflicted,  and  the  angel  of  his  presence  saved 
them.     In  his  love  and  in  his  pity  he  redeemed  them." 

"  '  With  the  consolations  of  the  word  of  God  before  us,  how 
confidently  may  we  expect  that  he  will  "deliver  his  spiritual 
Israel  out  of  all  their  troubles."  Even  viewed  under  existing 
circumstances,  your  situation  affords  abundant  ground  for 
hope  and  comfort ;  but  if  your  son's  death  be  viewed  on  his 
account,  how  greatly  may  your  consolations  abound  !  To  the 
son.  who  received  from  you  the  image  of  the  first  Adam,  you 
have  been  under  God  the  means  of  communicating  the  new 
man,  which  after  God  is  created  in  righteousness  and  true 
holiness.     Christ  was  formed  in  him  the  hope  of  glory. 

"  *  It  has  pleased  God  to  take  him  early  to  his  rest,  to  the 
enjoyment  of  Himself  in  a  blessed  eternity.  Who  can  wish 
him  hack  again  in  this  vale  of  tears?     It  is  the  consummation 


368  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

of  our  hopes  with  regard  to  others  as  well  as  ourselves,  that 
they  may  so  pass  through  things  temporal  as  finally  to  attain 
things  eternal.  We  must  therefore  thank  God  for  all  who 
have  died  in  his  faith  and  fear;  and  with  regard  to  the 
increase  of  care  or  trial  which  this  separation  occasions,  cast 
all  our  care  upon  him,  for  he  careth  for  us ;  and  thus,  trusting 
in  his  goodness,  we  shall  find  crooked  things  made  straight, 
and  rough  places  plain,  before  us,  for  which  we  shall  rejoice 
and  praise  God  when,  with  all  the  redeemed  from  every  kin- 
dred, and  tongue,  and  nation,  we  assemble  before  his  throne 
to  dwell  with  him  forever. 

" 1 1  should  have  been  glad  to  fill  this  sheet  with  the  inter- 
esting and  grateful  reflections  which  the  contents  of  your  last 
kind  favor  to  me  has  given  rise  to,  but  I  must  reserve  a  por- 
tion for  some  points  connected  with  the  object  of  your  visit  to 
this  country,  and  leave  the  thoughts  with  which  my  mind 
feels  crowded,  to  some  future  opportunity,  if  upon  reflection  I 
think  them  worth  your  perusal  amidst  the  multitude  of  cares 
which  you  have  to  attend  to. 

" '  In  the  last  Christian  Observer  I  perceive  that  our  Arch- 
bishops have  given  you  their  countenance,  and  promised  you 
their  assistance,  and  that  other  Bishons  are  following  their  ex- 
ample. This  is  one  of  the  great  points  gained  which  caused 
your  anxiety,  and  the  remaining  one  will  probably  follow  as 
its  consequence  —  a  sufficient  amount  of  contributions  for  the 
establishment  of  your  diocesan  seminary.  The  subscription 
in  York  is  not  quite  closed.  Mr.  Vernon  last  week  subscribed 
five  guineas.  He  is  one  of  our  residentiaries,  and  a  son  of 
the  Archbishop ;  you  will  perhaps  remember  him. 

"  '  Next  week,  on  my  return,  or  the  week  after,  I  will  see  a 
friend,  a  few  miles  from  York,  who  has  not  yet  been  applied 
to,  and  will  I  think  favor  your  good  designs.  I  hope  the  sub- 
scription is  going  on  well  in  London.  When  you  have 
leisure,  I  shall  have  pleasure  in  being  informed  of  its  prob- 
able amount,  as  you  cannot  perhaps  speak  with  certainty  at 
present. 

"'I  stated  some  time  back  that  I  thought  there  were  per- 
sons in  Sheffield  likely  to  favor  your  plans.  If  there  be  any 
danger  of  the  contributions  falling  short,  be  so  good  as  to 


bishop  chase's  reminiscences.  369 

inform  me  whether  any  exertions  have  been  made  on  your 
account  in  that  place.  I  hope  Mr.  Simeon,  or  some  other  like- 
minded  person,  has  taken  up  your  cause  at  Cambridge.  The 
books,  which  your  friends  in  York  intend  for  your  seminary, 
will  be  ready  to  send  to  Liverpool  in  a  few  days.  Be  so  good 
as  give  us  timely  notice  when  you  think  of  leaving  England. 
"  '  I  remain,  very  dear  sir,  yours  with  respect  and  esteem, 

"  'James  Dallin.'  " 

There  is  reason  to  believe  many  have  been  awakened  from 
spiritual  deadness,  and  stirred  up  to  faith  in  God  and  good 
will  towards  men,  by  the  perusal  of  this  dear,  Christian 
letter.  How  affectionately  sympathetic  is  it,  especially  to  one 
situated  as  the  writer  then  was;  and  how  reasonable  and 
scriptural  are  its  reflections ;  and,  to  crown  all,  how  near  to 
God's  presence  and  powerful  blessing  does  it  bring  one ! 

By  publishing  it  now,  the  writer  has  hopes  of  its  continuing 
to  do  good,  especially  to  his  children,  pupils,  and  descendants, 
for  many  generations.  In  this  view,  how  wonderfully  will  it 
be  itself  an  example  of  the  truth  of  one  of  its  chief  sentiments, 
that  "  God  hath  his  own  ways  of  accomplishing  his  designs," 
and  by  the  smallest,  and,  to  human  eyes,  the  most  casual 
means,  often  bringing  to  pass  the  greatest  and  most  lasting 
good  ! 

Soon  after  reading  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dallin's  letter,  one  was 
received  from  Lord  Gambier,  on  the  same  subject,  expressing 
similar  kind  and  affectionate  sentiments. 

"MAY   15,  1824. 

"  Mr.  W.,  of  Manchester,  called  at  my  lodgings ;  much  most 
interesting  conversation  on  past  and  present  occurrences. 

"With  Mr.  Marriott  went  to  Greenwich  and  dined  with  Dr. 
Barney.  This  proved  a  feast  of  learning  and  piety,  seasoned 
with  urbanity  and  gentleness.  Never  saw  Mr.  Marriott  in 
better  spirits  or  more  full  of  anecdotes.  All  were  much  inter- 
ested in  the  Ohio  seminary." 

"SUNDAY,  MAY  16. 

"Attended  divine  services  with  Lord  K.  at  Marylebone. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Dibden  preached.     In  the  afternoon  attended 


370  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

Church  in  Queen's  square.  Received  a  letter  from  the  Rev. 
Richard  Greswell,  of  Wooster  college,  of  a  most  interesting 
and  benevolent  character;  wishes  a  new  statement  of  the 
Ohio  cause  to  be  published.  Lord  K.  has  sent  a  note  desiring 
that  a  meeting  may  be  called  of  the  trustees  of  the  Ohio  fund, 
to  take  into  consideration  the  propriety  of  publishing  a  new 
statement  of  facts,  to  meet  late  objections  from  America. 
Lord  Gambier  having  been  consulted,  fixes  on  Tuesday, 
eleven  o'clock,  at  Mr.  Marriott's,  Queen's  square,  for  that 
purpose." 

"MAY  18. 

"Breakfasted  yesterday  with  Lord  Ken  yon.  All  things 
well. 

"  To-day  Mr.  Wiggin  breakfasted  with  me  at  my  lodgings. 
The  same,  with  Mr.  Marriott,  sat  with  the  trustees  at  eleven 
o'clock.  Long  consultation.  Mr.  Pratt  came  from  the  meet- 
ing to  my  lodgings  in  good  spirits.  Says  a  new  statement  of 
facts  will  appear  in  behalf  of  Ohio,  but  dignified  and  above 
controversy,  passing  over  many  things  for  the  sake  of  peace. 

"  Soon  after  this  a  man  called,  as  a  messenger  from  Lady 
Dowager  Rosse,  with  a  fourth  hundred  pounds  sterling,  to 
build  churches  in  Ohio.  Sent  it  to  the  fund.  Dr.  Gaskin  and 
Mr.  Marriott  called  to  enjoy  the  good  news  of  her  Ladyship's 
bounty.  We  are  all  to  meet  at  Church  in  Stoke  Newington 
next  Sunday.  Lord  Ken  yon  says  he  will  be  there  also.  Mr. 
Wiggin  invited  me  to  stand  sponsor  for  his  daughter  in  bap- 
tism. 

"  The  following  is  from  Lady  Rosse,  accompanying  the  one 
hundred  pounds :  — 


iC  c 
CI  c 


Stretton  Hall  May  16,  1824. 
The  Lady  Dowager  Rosse  returns  many  thanks  to  the 
good  Bishop  of  Ohio  for  his  kind  letter  and  the  information 
she  so  much  wished  for,  and  that  sent  through  Miss  Macfar- 
lane.  Lady  R.  dares  not  object  to  the  disinterested  disposal 
he  wishes  to  make  of  the  one  hundred  pounds,  though  really 
disappointed  at  not  being  allowed  to  serve  one  she  highly 
respects.  Lady  R.  thinks  the  idea  in  Miss  Macfarlane's 
letter,  of  small  subscriptions  towards  building  chapels  where 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  371 

most  wanting,  is  an  excellent  plan,  and  requests  to  subscribe 
one  hundred  pounds  towards  it,  which  will  accompany  this 
letter.  She  wishes  it  to  be  distributed,  as  the  Bishop  may  see 
fit,  among  three,  four,  or  more  parishes,  as  may  best  promote 
the  good  cause  he  has  so  much  at  heart,  and  which  she  most 
sincerely  wishes  may  prosper,  and  be  the  means  of  bringing 
many  to  the  knowledge  and  practice  of  true  religion. 

"  '  It  will  give  Lady  Rosse  great  pleasure  to  hear  of  the 
health  and  welfare  of  the  Bishop  and  his  family,  and  the 
success  of  all  his  plans.  Miss  Macfarlane  is  so  good  that  she 
will  save  him  the  trouble  of  writing  whenever  it  can  be  done. 
If  any  to  spare,  Lady  R.  would  be  glad  to  get  another  of  the 
printed  Appeals  for  a  friend. 

"  '  Lady  Rosse  forgot  to  answer  that  part  of  the  Bishop's 
letter  mentioning  the  high  compliment  he  wished  to  pay  her 
in  naming  the  chapel  for  the  seminary.  She  is  truly  sensible 
of  the  honor  intended,  but  must  decline  it  for  many  reasons. 
But  it  would  be  a  great  delight  to  her  if  it  were  to  have  an 
organ,  and  she  should  wish  to  contribute  towards  getting  one. 
Some  are  made  to  play  with  or  without  an  organist.'  " 

"  FRIDAY,  MAY  19. 

"Made  quite  happy  by  the  company  of  my  good  friend  from 
Manchester  at  my  lodgings,  with  his  daughter. 

"  At  five  P.  M.  Mr.  Marriott  called,  and  observed  in  relation 
to  the  opposition  to  the  Ohio  cause,  '  This  is  against  all  good 
faith.'  He  seemed  much  grieved  and  indignant.  Mr.  W.  and 
his  daughter  took  leave  for  Manchester." 

"MAY  20. 

"  Wrote  a  letter  to  Lady  Rosse :  can  it  be  called  an  answer 
to  hers  of  the  sixteenth  !     It  follows :  — 

uiNo.  10  Feather  stone  buildings,  \ 

May  2d,  L884.  J 

"  '  Very  Dear  Lady  :  — 

••  \\  hell  the  mind  is  deeply  affected  with  uncommon  events 
or  objects.  nlence  ii  the  best  expression  s£  our  feelings.  This 
is  no  solecism,  but  is  exemplified  in  many  instances. 

"'When  last  summer  1  visited  the  Falls  of  Niagara,  my 


372  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

wife  and  children  were  with  me ;  and  as  we  drew  near  that 
vast  cataract,  and  felt  the  trembling  of  the  earth  beneath  our 
feet,  and  saw  the  rising  sun  pictured  on  the  bosom  of  an 
awful  cloud,  rolling  its  curling  columns  to  the  skies,  I  could 
say  nothing,  could  do  nothing  but  press  the  hands  of  my 
lovely  babes  in  silent  awe.  To  me  it  seemed  that  God  was 
making  himself  known  through  his  works.  For  myself  to 
speak  would  seem  to  mar  the  scene  and  interrupt  the  majesty 
of  High  Heaven.  We  looked  one  upon  another,  and  in  silence 
lifted  our  eyes  with  reverence  to  God,  the  Maker  of  all  things 
and  the  Judge  of  all  men. 

"  '  Something  of  this  kind  was  renewed  in  my  mind  on  my 
visit  to  that  wonderful  structure  of  art,  the  York  minster.  It 
was  uncommonly  beautiful  and  majestic.  The  mind  in 
beholding  it  would  wish  to  retire  within  itself,  and,  unseen  by 
mortal  eye,  endeavor  to  indulge  in  feelings  of  admiration  and 
praise  to  Him  who  could  put  it  into  the  hearts  of  his  people 
to  erect  such  a  temple  to  the  glory  of  his  name. 

"  '  The  like  also  has  been  experienced  when,  after  a  storm 
at  sea,  the  serene  sky  appears  and  the  sun  breaks  forth  in 
his  glory.  God's  goodness  is  so  sudden  and  conspicuous, 
that  language  is  stifled  in  feelings  of  wonder,  gratitude,  and 
praise. 

"'I  could  not  assign  a  reason  why  I  have  thus  addressed 
your  Ladyship,  but  that  I  might  thereby  carve  out  a  rude 
representation  of  the  state  of  mind  and  feelings  into  which  I 
was  thrown,  by  the  contents  of  the  last  note  from  Stretton 
Hall 

"  '  Ever  since  the  year  1817,  when  first  I  stepped  my  foot 
on  the  ground  of  my  future  labors  in  the  west  of  America,  I 
have  been  struggling  with  difficulties ;  and  although,  through 
God's  mercy,  borne  up  by  the  Divine  promises,  and  the  object 
of  many  thousand  undeserved  blessings,  yet  my  hands  were 
tied,  and  the  work  before  me,  for  the  want  of  laborers,  lan- 
guished. And  when,  to  seek  relief  for  Christ's  scattered  fold, 
I  had  come  to  this  country,  I  found  myself  o'ershadowed  with 
a  cloud  as  gloomy  as  it  was  unexampled ;  and  though  my 
conscience  was  clear  in  the  path  of  duty,  yet  that  path  was 
strewed  with  thorns  and  beset  with  foes.     Some  late  instances 


bishop  chase's  reminiscences.  373 

also  had  conspired  to  give  sharpness  to  the  one  and  fury  to 

the  other. 

"  '  It  was  at  this  juncture  that  God  lifted  up  the  light  of 
his  merciful  countenance  upon  me,  and  pictured,  as  in  the 
expanse  of  an  ebon  cloud,  the  promise  of  his  goodness  on  my 
gloomy  prospects.  Your  Ladyship  and  other  good  friends 
were  raised  up,  by  means  almost  miraculous,  to  convince  me 
that  God  hath  all  hearts  in  his  hands,  and  that  He  alone  is 
worthy  to  be  praised. 

"  c  I  take  the  liberty  of  enclosing  to  your  Ladyship,  under  a 
frank  from  Lord  Kenyon,  the  Appeal  mentioned,  and  am,  most 
faithfully,  your  Ladyship's  grateful  and  obedient  servant, 

11 '  Philander  Chase.' 

"At  twelve  called  to  see  Mr.  Marriott,  where  I  met  Lord 
Kenyon  and  Dr.  Gaskin  examining  the  manuscript  of  a  pro- 
posed statement  of  the  Ohio  cause.  Lord  K.  asked  me  how 
I  intended  now  to  conduct  in  relation  to  the  Archbishops? 
Answer,  —  'As  I  always  have  done,  with  truth  and  honor.' 
He  said,  '  This  is  right,  and  I  thank  you  for  the  letter  you 
sent  me  yesterday.'  Of  this  I  am  sorry  to  say  I  kept  no 
copy." 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

JOURNAL     CONTINUED  —  STOKE     NEWINGTON  —  THREATENING    ASPECT 
OF    "THE    OPPOSITION" CAMBRIDGE    UNIVERSITY. 

"MAY.   21,   182-1. 

"  Breakfasted  at  Mr.  Marriott's ;  Lord  K.  was  there.  Went 
with  him  to  the  Central  Schools,  and  spent  several  hours  there. 
Qn  the  way,  his  Lordship  spoke  of  the  late  conduct  of  the 
opposition,  '  as  a  flagrant  breach  of  good  faith,  as  well  as  a 
cni'-l  persecution  of  an  innocent  man.'  Called  on  Mr.  Justice 
Park  ;  he  is  entirely  my  friend." 

32 


374  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 


MAY  22. 


"  Wrote  the  following  letter  to  Bishop  Bowen,  of  South  Car- 
olina, in  answer  to  his  of  last  March :  — 


'j 


"  'London,  May  22,  1824. 
"  i  Right  Rev.  and  Dear  Brother  :  — 

"  '  It  is  not  in  my  power  to  write  you  an  answer  worthy  of 
the  letter  which  your  kindness  dictated  on  the  occasion  of  the 
death  of  my  dear  son.  It  is  so  full  of  charity,  and  the  unction 
of  divine,  heavenly  consolation,  drawn  by  the  hand  of  friend- 
ship from  that  fountain  of  mercy  to  our  dying  world,  our  holy 
religion,  that  I  cannot  find  terms  in  which  to  frame  a  suitable 
reply.  All  I  can  say  unto  you  is,  that  I  have  read  your  letter 
over  many  times,  and  as  often  thanked  God  that  he  had  pro- 
vided such  an  asylum  for  my  poor  son,  in  his  last  and  great- 
est need,  as  that  of  your  city,  your  friendship  and  that  of  good 
Mrs.  Rutledge. 

" '  My  son's  life  was  short,  but  it  was  as  dear  to  me  as  it 
was  short.  He  grew  up  as  a  flower  in  the  garden  of  the 
Lord,  the  Church,  which  he  so  much  loved.  The  storms  beat 
upon  his  tender  head,  and  he  bowed  meekly  to  all  their  fury. 
He  is  now  cut  down  by  the  hand  of  Death,  but  the  fragrance 
of  his  holy  life  remaineth.  It  is  the  Lord;  let  him  do  what 
seemeth  to  him  good.  Nature  feels  the  stroke,  but  the  balm 
of  our  holy  faith  heals  the  wound. 

"  '  To  say  that  I  mourn  not  would  not  be  true.  I  have  shed 
more  tears  on  this  occasion  than  on  any  other ;  yet  they  are 
not  for  him,  but  for  myself  alone.  In  a  foreign  land  —  my 
best  deeds  misinterpreted  by  those  whom  I  have  ever  respected, 
and  who  should  be  my  friends ;  struggling  to  obtain  means  to 
augment  the  number  of  Christ's  faithful  ministers,  lest  his 
Church  perish  in  the  west,  and  yet  called  to  mourn  over  the 
untimely  death  of  two  out  of  seven  on  whom,  under  God,  I 
had  relied  for  assistance  in  the  great  work  before  me,  and  one 
of  them  my  son  —  and  such  a  son,  too,  whose  very  example 
was  a  continual  sermon,  persuading  to  holiness  more  powerfully 
than  all  my  best  endeavors  !  For  these  things  I  mourn,  and 
mine  eyes  gush  out  with  tears.     But,  thank  God,  complaint 


bishop  chase's  reminiscences.  375 

and  despair  are  far  from  me.  On  the  black  cloud  which  sur- 
rounds me  God  paints  his  promises  in  bright  and  vivid  colors. 
He  saith  to  me,  'O  tarry  thou  the  Lord's  leisure;  be  strong 
and  he  shall  comfort  thine  heart ;  put  thou  thy  trust  in  the 
Lord.'  '  I  will  deliver  thee  out  of  the  hand  of  the  wicked,  and 
I  will  redeem  thee  out  of  the  hand  of  the  terrible.'  The  same 
Sun  of  Righteousness,  whose  glory  is  thus  reflected  from  the 
cloud  of  adversity  in  the  language  of  promise,  cheers  my  heart 
with  the  warmth  of  his  grace,  and  my  very  soul  praises  God 
for  the  refreshments  which  come  down  from  his  mercy-seat, 
even  in  storms. 

" '  On  your  goodness,  dear  brother,  I  will  further  rely  for 
making  my  most  grateful  sentiments  known  to  all  who  noticed 
and  contributed  to  the  comfort  of  my  dear  deceased  son.  For 
their  loving  kindness  in  this  respect  they  must  wait  for  a 
better  reward  than  I  can  give  them,  even  for  that  which  pass- 
eth  understanding,  which  God  alone  can  render.  To  Mr. 
Rutledge,  and  his  mother,  and  all  there,  do  mention  me  as  in 
an  especial  manner  grateful.  What  would  I  give  to  be  per- 
mitted to  pour  forth  into  their  bosoms  what  I  feel  in  my  own ! 
When  I  shall  return  to  my  dear  people  in  Ohio  I  know  not, 
but  hope  it  may  be  in  the  course  of  the  summer. 

"  '  Ever  faithfully  and  gratefully  your  brother, 

"'  Philander  Chase.' 

"At  two  o'clock  Mr.  Pratt  called  and  showed  me  a  subscrip- 
tion of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rogers  for  two  hundred  pounds  to  the 
Ohio  cause.  This  is  the  gentleman  who  has  written  a  tract 
on  the  truth  of  the  proper  divinity  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  sub- 
stance of  which  is,  Why  did  the  Jews  crucify  him  ?  Because 
he  affirmed  his  own  proper  divinity.  And  did  he  affirm  that 
which  was  false,  and  in  so  doing  lose  his  life,  when,  by 
affirming  the  truth,  he  could  have  saved  it?  The  gentleman 
who  wrote  so  judiciously  on  this  subject  has  given  what  is 
equal  to  a  thousand  dollars  for  the  spreading  of  the  truth  in 
the  west  of  America.  What  Christian  will  not  rejoice  at  such 
instances  of  genuine  faith  ? 

"At  six  we  dined  at  Mr.  Joseph  Wilsons,  in  Highbury 
place,  about  four  milefl  from  the  city,  yt  all  the  way  as  if  a 


376  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

city.  It  is  a  lovely  place,  embosomed  in  trees.  Young  Mr. 
Wilson,  from  Oxford,  was  there ;  young  Mr.  Wilberforce,  Mr. 
Butterworth,  and  many  others,  both  gentlemen  and  ladies. 
Young  Mr.  Wilson,  as  I  walked  out,  civilly  conducted  me  to 
his  room,  and  showed  me  a  marble  statue  of  Jesus  Christ, 
representing  him  in  the  very  act  of  yielding  up  the  ghost,  — 
the  most  affecting  sight  I  ever  saw.  It  is  said  to  be  the  same 
which  Louis  XVI.  possessed." 

"SUNDAY,  MAY  23. 

"This  day  was  spent  in  attending  church,  morning  and 
evening,  at  Stoke  Newington.  At  an  early  hour  the  good 
Lord  Kenyon  called  and  took  both  Mr.  Marriott  and  myself  to 
that  peaceful  church,  and  there  we  met  the  venerable  Dr. 
Gaskin,  again  ready  to  preach  the  word  and  administer  the 
bread  of  life  to  the  faithful. 

" After  evening  church  was  over,  and  while  Mr.  Marriott 
was  reading  something  quite  interesting  to  the  Doctor,  Lord 
Kenyon  walked  with  me  in  the  garden.  Surely  I  have  rea- 
son to  bless  God  for  the  acquaintance  and  support  of  this 
nobleman  of  unshaken  integrity.  He  stands  in  the  breach 
which  my  enemies  have  made,  and  manfully  defends  my 
righteous  cause.  What  am  I,  O  God !  that  thou  hast  given 
me  such  a  friend,  when  most  of  all  I  need  him !  How  pleas- 
ant is  this  day  made  unto  me  !  In  the  neighborhood  of  one 
the  greatest  cities  in  the  world,  filled  with  all  the  bustle  and 
pride  this  world  can  muster  —  ourselves  retired  in  a  quiet  gar- 
den, abounding  with  flowers  and  blooming  shrubbery,  and 
majestic  trees  spreading  their  boughs,  and  yielding  their  lux- 
uriant freshness  above,  below,  and  all  around  —  the  neat,  old- 
fashioned,  modest,  convenient  and  well-stored  wooden  parson- 
age-house, with  its  learned,  pious  and  hospitable  rector  —  a 
friend  like  Marriott  reading  to  him,  and  embellishing  every- 
thing he  reads  with  religion,  learning  and  wit,  in  language  of 
never-failing  charity  —  and  myself  permitted  to  enjoy  all  this, 
in  company  with  one  of  the  mildest  and  most  faithful  of 
friends,  in  the  person  of  an  English  nobleman,  and  he  the 
warm  and  generous  Kenyon  —  how  wonderfully,  thought  I, 
doth  God  mercifully   counteract  the   evil   with   the    good  ! 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  377 

Whenever  he  permits  the  enemy  to  strike,  then  he  sends  the 
balm  to  heal  the  wound.     This  is  soothing  indeed. 

"In  coming  home  we  all  got  out  near  Doughty  street,  and 
his  Lordship's  carriage  was  ordered  away.  Mr.  M.  called  to 
see  Mr.  Pratt,  while  we  walked  on,  and  soon  separated,  I  to 
my  lodgings,  he  to  Portman  square." 

"MAY  24. 

"Attended  with  Lord  Kenyon  the  Clergy  Orphan  School; 
dined  with  him,  and  then  went  to  the  Parliament  House. 
Was  introduced  to  the  House  of  Lords.  Lord  Liverpool  was 
exceedingly  eloquent  on  the  subject  of  restoring  an  ancient 
family  to  their  honors.  Lord  Gambier  came  and  spoke  to  me 
most  kindly." 

"MAY  27. 

"This  morning  Mr.  Marriott  called  at  my  lodgings,  and 
read  a  long  and  very  good  letter  from  the  Rev.  Thomas  H. 
Home,  about  the  'foolish  opposition'' — how  much  harm  it  is 

doing  in  its  new  and  vamped  edition  in  London.     ' will 

come  back  from  Rome  soon,  and  may  I  not  hope,'  said  he, 
'that  Bishop  Chase  will  meet  him  at  a  friend's  house?'  I 
answered  that  I  should  have  satisfaction  in  meeting  him  at 
any  time  and  any  place.  Happy  was  I  that  I  had  not  inten- 
tionally done  him  harm,  and  would  freely  forgive  what  harm 
he  had  done  me.  What  harm  he  was  doing  to  the  Church,  he 
must  account  for,  not  to  me,  but  to  God.  At  half  past  nine  I 
set  off  for  Cambridge. 

"  The  following  letters,  the  one  from  Mr.  Bull,  of  Christ's 
Church  College,  Oxford,  and  the  other  from  my  old  and  best 
of  friends,  Mr.  W.,  of  Manchester,  being  of  this  date,  were 
forwarded  to  me,  but  should  be  inserted  here :  — 

"  'Christ's  Church,  May  27,  1824. 
M  l  Rt.  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir  :  — 

"  *  I  have  to  acknowledge  the  favor  of  your  letter,  which, 
with  its  interesting  accompaniment,  Lord  Kenyon  was  so 
good  as  to  enclose  to  me.  Subscriptions  have  been  opened  in 
this  place  for  the  General  Seminary  and  that  of  the  diocese  of 

32* 


378  BISHOP   chase's   reminiscences. 

Ohio,  and  I  have  had  the  satisfaction  of  contributing  my  mite 
to  both. 

"  '  In  the  earnest  hope  that  our  trifling  aid  may  advance  the 
important  cause  you  have  taken  in  hand,  I  beg  to  subscribe 
myself,  with  great  respect,  Rt.  Rev.  and  dear  sir,  your  faithful 
and  obedient  servant,  John  Bull.' 

"  'Manchester,  May  27,  1824. 
"  '  My  Dear  Friend  :  — 

"  *  Your  favor  of  the  24th  was  received  yesterday,  and  read 
with  much  pleasure.  The  liberal  donations  of  the  Bishop  of 
Chester,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rogers,  and  Mrs.  Sheppard,  improve 
the  complexion  of  your  cause,  and  I  hope  they  are  an  earnest 
of  future  liberality.  1  have  this  morning  received  the  new 
circular,  and  think  well  of  it.  It  must  be  considered  concili- 
atory in  spirit  and  letter,  and  if  this  will  not  convince  your 
opponents  of  your  earnest  endeavors  to  secure  the  unity  of  the 
Church,  as  well  as  its  extension  and  prosperity,  I  think  noth- 
ing will.  Such  pure,  disinterested  and  judicious  opinions,  as 
are  expressed  in  this  circular,  are  entitled  to  great  weight  and 
to  my  acquiescence.  I  sincerely  hope  it  will  produce  the 
hoped  for  effect,  and  be  the  means  of  making  peace  in  Amer- 
ica and  of  preserving  it  here. 

"'Since  I  left  you,  nothing  important  has  come  to  my 
knowledge.  I  arrived  safe  with  my  daughter  at  Piatt  Hall 
the  evening  after  I  left  you,  and  found  my  family  enjoying 
their  usual  health.  They  were  not  only  glad  to  see  us,  but 
delighted  to  hear  good  tidings  of  you.  You  know  the  sincer- 
ity of  our  friendship,  and  need  not  fear  our  jealousy  of  supe- 
riors, who  take  you  cordially  by  the  hand,  and  with  equal 
zeal  exert  themselves  to  promote  your  views;  for  whoever 
does  this  for  the  good  of  the  Church,  becomes  our  friend  and 
the  promoter  of  our  happiness. 

"  '  When  you  can  communicate  anything  interesting  I  shall 
be  glad  to  hear  from  you,  if  you  can  find  time  to  write,  and 
you  will  not  fail  to  do  so  when  you  think  I  can  render  you 
any  service.  All  your  friends  here  desire  to  be  kindly  remem- 
bered, and  express  their  desire  to  see  you  when  you  may  again 
visit  us. 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  379 

"'I  see  the  subscription  is  not  much  short  of  three  thou- 
sand pounds,  and  that  from  Huddersfield  has  not  been  paid 
in.  You  are  quite  triumphant,  and  no  one  rejoices  more  sin- 
cerely than  your  faithful  friend,  T.  Wiggin.'" 

In  Cambridge,  England,  religion  and  learning  are  united; 
nothing  but  folly  ever  put  them  asunder.  The  record  of  the 
writer's  time,  passed  in  his  first  visit  to  this  venerable  univer- 
sity, is  so  full,  that  to  use  the  half  would  cause  the  stream  of 
this  humble  biography  to  overflow  its  bounds. 

Professor  Farish  received  him  with  great  kindness  under  his 
hospitable  roof,  and  Mr.  Simeon  showed  him  every  mark  of 
affectionate  regard. 

Mr.  George  W.  Marriott  says,  in  a  letter  dated  London,  May 
28,  1824:-— 

"A  most  shameful  and  malignant  article  has  made  its 
appearance  in  the  British  Critic,  according  to  the  account 
given  of  it  to  me  by  Mr.  Pratt.  He  thinks,  and  I  think, 
an  answer  must  be  written.  Lord  K.  will  set  the  Bishops 
right  on  the  subject  to-morrow,  I  am  sure.  It  entirely  over- 
looks him  and  Dr.  Gaskin,  and  attacks  Lord  Gambier  only  of 
the  trustees.     I  cannot  add  more  now,  for  want  of  time. 

"  May  the  God  of  peace  and  love,  to  whom,  /  am  sure,  these 
measures  are  hateful,  prosper  you,  is  the  constant  prayer  of 
your  devoted  and  affectionate  friend,  G.  W.  M." 

The  29th  of  May  is  a  feast  day  in  Trinity  College.  The 
writer  was  introduced,  by  Professor  Farish,  to  the  vice-chan- 
cellor, and  with  him  attended  Church.  The  litany  only  was 
read,  and  a  sermon  preached.  At  three  was  conducted  to  the 
great  hall,  to  dine  with  the  fellows.  Everything  was  in  the 
most  perfect  order,  indicating  generous  confidence  and  mutual 
love.  The  broad-brimmed  silver  platter  of  rose-water  was  not 
forgotten,  to  cleanse  and  shed  sweet  fragrance  round.  Grace 
and  singing  an  anthem  closed  the  dinner. 

The  following  letter  is  from  good  Mr.  Pratt:  — 


380  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

"  London,  May  29,  1824. 
"  Rt.  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir  :  — 

"  By  a  letter  from  Mr.  Schomberg,  I  rejoice  to  hear  that  you 
are  beginning  well  at  Cambridge.  I  send  in  this  parcel  such 
copies  of  the  Appeal  and  Declaration  as  I  can  collect.  We 
shall  get  to  press  with  a  new  edition.  These  I  hope  will 
answer  present  calls,  till  more  can  be  prepared. 

"I  beg  to  be  kindly  remembered  to  Professor  and  Mrs. 
Farish,  to  Mr.  Schomberg,  and  all  friends,  and  am  ever,  dear 
sir,  your  very  faithful  servant,  Josiah  Pratt." 

"  MAY  30. 

"Attended  morning  service  at  the  parish  church  of  Profes- 
sor Farish.  At  two  o'clock,  at  St.  Mary's  church,  University. 
Sermon  by  Rev.  H.  Rose ;  a  full  congregation.  Half  past 
three,  at  prayers  in  King's  College  chapel.  It  is  one  of  the 
most  splendid  buildings  in  England ;  the  lofty  arches,  inter- 
lacing in  Gothic  style,  and  finished  with  the  most  curious 
workmanship,  strike  the  beholder  with  delight.  Being  so 
lofty,  it  wants  a  transept  to  make  it  perfect." 

"  MAY  31. 

"  Breakfasted  with  Mr.  Thore  and  lady ;  several  members 
of  Trinity  College  were  present. 

"  Dined  with  Professor  Farish ;  Mr.  Simeon,  Professor  Lee, 
and  others,  were  present." 

"JUNE  1. 

"  Dined  with  Mr.  Simeon ;  many  present,  especially  at  tea. 
Much  said  about  the  passage  in  the  Holy  Scripture,  '  Make  to 
yourselves  friends  of  the  mammon  of  unrighteousness.'  The 
text  was  referred  to  me,  and  though  at  the  fountain  of  religious 
learning,  the  following  opinion  was  offered  :  — 

"  As  it  is  the  part  of  a  '  friend'  to  give  advice,  especially  by 
example,  '  to  make  friends '  is  the  same  as  to  seek  instruction ; 
e.  g.,  '  Go  to  the  ant,  thou  sluggard,  and  receive  instruction 
from  the  bee,  ye  rebellious  people,'  would  be  the  same  as  to 
say,  make  friends  of  these  industrious  and  loyal  insects;  i.  e., 
take  example  from  them.  As  they  provide  with  industry  and 
order  for  the  exigencies  and  extremities  of  their  being,  so  are 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  381 

we  to  be  industrious  and  loyal.  In  the  same  way,  to  make 
friends  of  the  mammon  of  unrighteousness,  means  that  we  are 
to  take  example  from  the  men  of  this  world,  who,  being  'wise 
in  their  generation,'  do  with  laudable  foresight  make  provision 
for  the  last  extremity  ;  and  when  we  know  the  day  of  reckon- 
ing, the  last  and  final  judgment,  is  inevitable  and  at  hand,  it 
is  the  demand  of  wisdom  and  duty  to  provide  for  it. 

"  There  are  minor  parts  to  be  explained,  but  this  is  the  main 
design  of  the  injunction  in  the  text ;  for  our  Lord  immediately 
adds,  that  '  the  children  of  this  world  are  wiser  in  their  genera- 
tion than  the  children  of  light,'  which  seems  to  fix  the  mean- 
ing of  the  whole  according  to  this  interpretation. 

"  Mr.  Simeon  said  this  was  not  the  way  in  which  this  verse 
had  been  rendered  by  the  commentators.  Professor  Lee  said 
he  thought  it  a  true  interpretation,  according  to  the  usages  and 
idioms  of  speech  among  the  ancient  eastern  people. 

"  The  next  was  the  subject  of  natural  religion.  The  ques- 
tion was,  whether  there  was  any  such  thing  as  the  deists  mean 
by  it;  i.  e.,  that  man  can  have  religion  by  nature,  as  he  inherits 
his  physical  faculties  ?  No,  was  the  answer ;  '  for  faith  cometh 
by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the  word  of  God.'  But  persons 
born  deaf,  and  of  course  dumb,  have  religion.  Answer — not 
before  they  learn  language ;  and  this  being  done  through  the 
eye,  it  amounts  to  the  same  thing ;  and  the  proof  of  this  is, 
that  the  deaf  and  dumb  confess  they  knew  nothing  of  God, 
heaven  or  hell,  of  any  rewards  and  punishments  in  another 
world,  till  they  were  taught  it  by  the  word  of  God. 

"  But  what  can  you  say  of  the  words  of  the  apostle,  'When 
the  Gentiles  which  have  not  the  law,  do  by  nature  the  things 
contained  in  the  law,'  &c.  ?  Answer— put  the  comma  after 
the  original  word,  which  signifies  nature,  and  the  passage  will 
read  thus :  '  For  when  the  Gentiles  which  have  not  the  law 
by  nature,  do  the  things  contained  in  the  law ;'  and  the  mean- 
ing is  evident,  that  persons  who  fulfil  the  will  of  God,  by 
believing  his  word  and  obeying  his  commands,  may  be 
accepted  of  him  in  Jesus,  who  is  the  end  of  the  law  to  every 
one  who  believeth,  as  much  as  the  Jews,  who  were  born 
under  the  law,  or  legal  dispensation.  In  this  way  the  verse 
would  be  exceedingly  appropriate  for  an  Epiphany  sermon." 


382  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

The  following  extract  is  from  a  letter  from  Bishop  Skin- 
ner:— 

"Aberdeen,  May  20,  1824. 
"  Rt.  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir  :  — 

"Although  we  possess  neither  silver  nor  gold  to  further 
your  endeavors,  you  may  rest  assured  of  obtaining  that  which 
we  have  in  our  power,  our  fervent  prayers  to  the  Divine  Head 
of  the  Church  for  his  continued  blessing  on  your  invaluable 
labors,  and  especially  for  the  success  of  your  mission  to  this 
country.  In  hopes  of  their  being  of  some  use  to  the  theologi- 
cal seminary,  which  you  are  so  anxious  to  establish  in  Ohio, 
I  beg  your  acceptance  of  the  accompanying  volumes,  the  labors 
of  my  grandfather,  father  and  brother,  in  the  cause  of  Episco- 
pacy. 

"And  having  for  a  long  time  felt. a  most  lively  interest  in 
everything  connected  with  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  your 
American  Church,  I  will  look  forward  with  increased  anxiety 
to  know  the  result  of  your  indefatigable  endeavors,  which, 
through  the  Divine  blessing,  will,  I  hope,  in  time  be  crowned 
with  complete  success. 

"  Your  faithful  brother  in  Christ,  W.  Skinner." 

In  a  letter  received  at  this  time  from  the  writer's  Manches- 
ter friend,  Mr.  W.,  alluding  to  the  opposition,  he  says :  "A 
good  cause  in  the  midst  of  dangers  and  troubles,  like  a  stanch 
ship  in  a  storm,  gives  buoyancy  to  our  spirits  and  a  gleam  of 
hope  to  cheer  us  on  our  way.  This  I  trust  will  enable  you  to 
surmount  all  obstacles,  and  finally  to  accomplish  your  mission 
with  pleasant  reflections  and  brighter  prospects." 

The  following  letter  was  addressed  to  Lord  Kenyon  by  the 
writer  while  at  Cambridge  : — 

"Cambridge j  June  2,  1824. 
"  My  Dear  Lord  Kenyon  :  — 

"I  have  been  introduced  to  the  vice-chancellor,  and  am  to 
dine  with  him  to-day.  I  hope  also  to-day  to  see  the  Bishop 
of  Bristol.     To-morrow  I  shall  go  to  Lady  Olivia  Sparrow's, 


bishop   chase's  reminiscences.  383 

on  my  way  to  London,  and  on  Friday  morning  shall,  Deo 
volenle,  be  at  No.  10  Featherstone  buildings. 

"  On  Saturday  next  I  hope  to  bear  your  Lordship  company 
in  a  pilgrimage  to  Nat/land.  I  know  not  how  it  is,  but  I  can 
say  with  great  sincerity  that,  of  uninspired  authors,  I  know  of 
none  at  whose  grave  my  soul  could  pour  out  a  more  grateful 
prayer  to  God  for  the  blessing  of  his  writings,  than  the  Rev. 
William  Jones,  of  Nayland.  May  God  enable  me  to  improve 
by  contemplating  the  sentiments  and  character  of  that  primi- 
tive clergyman. 

"I  had  just  finished  the  above  sentence  when  the  post 
brought  me  your  Lordship's  kind  note  of  yesterday,  enclosing 
one  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ward,  of  Great  Horksley,  near  Nay- 
land.  How  many  things  conspire  to  raise  my  anticipations 
of  pleasure  in  this  visit  to  Nayland !  I  fear  I  have  mingled  too 
much  expectation  of  delight  in  it  to  allow  its  consistency  with 
our  imperfect  state.  Our  life  is  but  a  journey ;  abused  always 
when  not  used  as  such.  And  although  the  fashion  thereof,  as 
objects  and  scenery  in  a  fleeting  course,  passes  swiftly  by,  and 
we  are  permitted  at  proper  times  to  be  refreshed  at  the  inn— 
or,  when  the  vehicle  is  climbing  slowly  up  the  hill,  to  descend 
from  it  and  pluck  the  flowers,  or  drink  of  the  pure  brook  in 
the  way — yet  we  must  remember  that  this  refreshment  and 
these  flowers,  being  those  of  a  journey,  must  in  their  nature 
be  fading  and  imperfect,  and  as  such  should  engage  but  an 
inferior  part  of  our  affections.  Let  us  then  remember,  (so  did 
our  good  Jones  of  Nayland,)  that  'heaven  is  our  home;  this 
life  a  journey.'  Thither  onward,  as  those  to  whom  all  joys 
are  husks  but  such  as  are  tasted  in  the  forgiving  bosom  of  a 
reconciled  Father ! 

"  Ever  your  Lordship's  most  grateful  and  affectionate  friend 
and  humble  servant,  P.  Chase." 

"JUNE  3. 

"  Left  Cambridge  in  the  coach  of  good  Mr.  Simeon,  who 
also  himself  accompanied  me  to  the  residence  of  Lady  Olivia 
Sparrow,  Brampton  Park,  near  Huntington." 

But  this  is  better  explained  by  a  letter  which  the  writer  of 
this  memoir  addressed  to  his  wife  after  arriving  in  London:  — 


384  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

"  London,  June  4,  1824. 

"  My  Dear  Wife  :— 

"  You  will  see  by  the  enclosed  memorandum  where  I  have 
been— to  Cambridge.  My  journey  on  the  whole  has  been 
pleasant.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Simeon  took  me  in  his  carriage  to 
Brampton  Park,  about  eighteen  miles  distant  from  Cambridge, 
and  leaving  me  about  the  same  distance  from  London.  This 
jaunt  was  commenced  yesterday  morning  at  eleven.  We 
arrived  at  the  Park  about  one,  and  in  that  place,  its  mansion- 
house  and  manifold  conveniences,  saw  very  great  perfection. 
Lady  Olivia  B.  Sparrow,  her  daughter  the  Viscountess,  and 
her  son-in-law  the  Lord  Mandeville,  received  us  very  kindly, 
and  we  were  entertained  as  if  princes. 

"  The  walks,  the  gardens,  the  fields  and  the  flowers,  joined 
to  many  paintings  and  instances  of  beautiful  statuary,  were 
all  surveyed.  But  amidst  them  all  I  thought  of  home,  of  you 
and  the  dear  children,  without  ceasing.  It  was  only  when  the 
conversation  drew  near  to  something  which  would  seem  to 
facilitate  my  journey  to  Ohio,  that  I  felt  any  life.  Lady  Olivia 
is  a  grandmother,  yet  is  apparently  quite  young  and  beautiful. 
Her  equal  in  this  respect  I  think  I  have  never  seen.  Like  us 
she  lost  a  darling  son  of  the  consumption,  and  now  more  than 
most  people  turns  her  whole  heart  to  the  practice  of  devotion. 
Her  household  is  very  numerous,  yet  is  the  most  decently 
devout,  except  that  of  Lord  Gambier,  I  have  witnessed  in 
England.  When  assembled  for  prayers  in  the  great  hall,  I 
counted  fourteen  servant-maids,  and  should  judge  the  men- 
servants  not  to  be  quite  so  many.  A  poor  blind  girl,  trained 
for  the  purpose,  played  on  the  organ,  and  few  congregations 
have  I  ever  heard  sing  more  melodiously.  The  chair  for  read- 
ing the  Holy  Scriptures  was  given  to  me,  though  Mr.  Simeon 
was,  I  knew,  much  more  worthy. 

"  At  ten  P.  M.  I  set  off  in  her  Ladyship's  carriage  for  Rug- 
don,  about  two  miles,  whence  I  jumped  into  the  mail  coach, 
and  by  seven  this  morning  was  at  my  lodgings. 

"  Mr.  X since  I  have  been  away  has  been  publishing 

an  article  in  the  British  Critic,  more  spiteful  against  me  than 
anything  heretofore  put  forth.  The  pamphlet  furnishes  him 
with  some  bitter  materials,  and  he  seems  quite  in  his  element 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  385 

I  still  adhere  to  my  first  resolution,  to  say  nothing,  however 
flagrant  the  falsehoods  which  mine  enemies  bring  forward.  I 
hear,  however,  that  a  private  person  is  about  writing  a  letter 
to  Lord  Kenyon,  the  object  of  which  will  be  to  state  facts  and 
put  crooked  things  a  little  straight.  May  God  bless  you  and 
the  children  !  Philander  Chase." 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

THE     WRITER'S    VISIT     TO     NAYLAND     AND     HORKSLEY RETURN     TO 

LONDON VISIT    TO    OXFORD. 

The  chief  incidents  connected  with  this  visit,  which  was  one 
of  the  most  interesting  events  connected  with  the  writer's 
sojourn  in  England,  are  thus  given  in  a  letter  to  his  wife :  — 

"  Whitsun-Monday,  1824. 
"My  Dear  Wife:  — 

"I  am  now  at  the  parsonage  of  Great  Horksley,  the  present 
incumbent  being  the  Rev.  William  Ward.  Howl  came  here, 
and  what  has  passed  since  here,  the  following  sketches  will 
show. 

"At  nine  o'clock  on  Saturday  last,  in  Queen's  square,  Lon- 
don, I  stepped  into  the  carriage  of  Lord  Kenyon,  with  whom 
and  our  mutual  friend  G.  W.  Marriott,  the  coach  set  off  full 
speed  to  this  place,  all  in  the  best  spirits.  We  soon  lost  our 
way,  (as  if  we  were  in  the  woods  of  Ohio  !)  Then  there  was 
great  difficulty  in  settling  who  was  to  blame  in  directing  the 
postilion, — his  Lordship  or  Mr.  M.  On  stopping  to  inquire, 
multitudes  were  eager  to  put  us  right,  and  we  laughed  at  our 
own  unwillingness  to  believe  what  all  said  was  the  ti'iic  way 
simply  because  we  thought  we  were  going  the  right  one. 
Stopped  to  inquire  again,  when  the  same  disagreeable  truth 
was  repeated,  'You  must  turn  short;  you  will  never  be  in 
the  right  by  keeping  your  present  course.'     So  we  turned,  and 

went  back  as  we  eanie. 

"Many  useful  reflections  occurred  to  the  mind  by  this  inci- 

33 


386  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

dent,  —  repentance,  conversion,  and  amendment  of  our  ways, 
if  we  think  we  are  already  right. 

"The  country,  as  we  rode  swiftly  through  it,  was  level, 
and  the  hamlets  pleasant.  The  tired  horses  were  sent  back, 
and  the  rest  of  the  journey  performed  by  relays.  These,  as 
we  passed  on,  were  furnished  at.  the  proper  stages  with  great 
speed.  No  silence  in  such  a  ride  as  this.  Neither  distance 
nor  time  was  counted. 

"At  four  arrived  at  Horksley — sooner  than  we  were  ex- 
pected. Mr.  Ward  had  gone  out.  Mrs.  W.  received  us  most 
pleasantly.  The  fields  invited  us  to  walk,  and  we  were  soon 
joined  by  good  Mr.  Ward.  We  strolled  together  to  a  point 
whence  we  could  overlook  Nayland,  the  place  so  dear  to  Lord 
Kenyon  as  a  pupil,  and  to  myself  as  a  sincere  admirer,  of  the 
Rev.  William  Jones.  Nayland  is  in  a  valley.  A  small  river 
runs  through  its  verdant  and  flowery  bosom.  The  gently 
rising  grounds  adorned  the  receding  view,  and  in  the  midst 
was  the  modest  church  where  once  that  holy  preacher  pro- 
claimed the  gospel.  In  distant  prospect  on  every  side  were 
six  churches,  the  names  of  which  were  told  me,  but  I  have 
forgotten  them.  No  matter ;  Nayland  church  is  enough  for 
me  now  to  dwell  on. 

"  Turning  our  faces  to  Horksley  parsonage,  how  pleasant 
was  our  converse! — the  glebe  proving  by  its  neatness  the 
incumbent's  taste  and  virtues ;  its  walks  how  well  kept ;  its 
trees  how  well  trimmed;  its  flowers  how  fragrant  and  how 
tastefully  arranged  !  But  what  are  these  compared  with  the 
inhabitants  within  !  There  was  Charlotte,  the  eldest  of  this 
good  man's  daughters,  most  gentle  in  her  manners;  next  sat 
Mary,  now  kindling  into  a  flame  of  zeal  for  the  Ohio  cause ; 
with  several  smaller  buds  of  promise.  And  here  conies  the 
dinner — entirely  English  ;  plenty  without  profusion  ;  the  best 
served  in  the  best  manner.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Sims,  the  successor 
of  Jones  of  Nayland,  was  present ;  and  the  day  passed  off, 
as  few  do  in  this  naughty  world,  without  a  subject  of  regret. 

"  Whitsunday r,  1824.  I  spent  this  holiday  in  Nayland 
church.  What  pleasure,  mingled  with  reverence,  did  I  enjoy 
as  I  entered  this  venerable  edifice,  and  saw  the  pulpit  where 
that  good  man  preached,  and  received  the  sacrament  from  the 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  387 

table  of  the  Lord  where  he  once  ministered.  Including  Lord 
K.j  Mr.  Marriott  and  myself,  there  were  seventy- two  who 
partook  together. 

"In  the  vestry-room  there  is  a  vault-stone,  underneath 
which  are  the  earthly  remains  of  the  author  of  c  The  Catholic 
Doctrine  of  the  Trinity.'  "  *  *  *  [The  rest  of  this  letter 
is  lost.] 

Thus  closes  the  memoranda  of  this  visit  to  Nayland  and  the 
tomb  of  the  author  of  "  The  Catholic  Doctrine  of  the  Trinity," 
"  The  Figurative  Language  of  the  Scriptures,"  and  other 
works  that  will  never  die.  Memory,  however,  though  at  so 
great  distance,  is  able  to  supply  some  things  that  may  serve 
to  fill  up  the  picture.  As  if  yesterday,  the  writer  recollects 
that  the  Book  of  Church  Records  was  presented  to  him,  and 
in  that  book  he  wrote  the  following  short  note  of  his  visit  to 
Nayland :  — 

"On  Whitsunday,  A.  D.  1824,  P.  Chase,  Bishop  of  Ohio,  in 
North  America,  attended  morning  service  and  received  the 
holy  sacrament  at  the  altar  in  this  church,  and  gave  most  sin- 
cere thanks  to  Almighty  God  for  all  the  mercies  of  our  com- 
mon redemption,  and  especially  that  he  hath  lived  to  see  the 
place  where  the  good  and  great  William  Jones  ministered  to 
the  Lord.  The  Bishop  of  Ohio  leaves  this  church  with  the 
most  devout  prayers  for  blessings  on  the  present  incumbent, 
and  all  who  receive  the  word  and  sacraments  here  forever, 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord." 

He  also  remembers  the  feelings  he  had  when  he  knelt  at  the 
altar  with  good  Lord  Kcnyon,  and  the  excellent  Marriott,  and 
the  pious  Christians  of  Jones'  loved  rloek,  and  how  he  realized 
there  the  koinin. — the  communion  of  saints,  —  mentioned  in 
the  creed.  He  remembers  returning  with  his  friends  to 
Horkaley,  and  Attending  the  afternoon  senrica,  where  Mr. 
Ward,  the  rector,  afterwards  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Sudor  and 
Mann,  now  he  trusi.s  a  saint  in  Paradise,  officiated.  He 
remembers  going  from  the  church  to  the  parsonage,  and  of 
witnessing  the  order  and  beauty  of  a  pious  English  family, 


388  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

bred  up  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord — their  zeal 
for  the  truth — their  devotion  to  God  and  his  Church — their 
sympathy  in  the  wants  and  sufferings  of  others.  He  remem- 
bers spending  the  afternoon  and  evening  in  reading  the  divine 
word,  in  singing  God's  praises,  and  in  laying  on  that  holy 
ground  the  foundation  of  a  Christian  friendship,  which  will 
cease  only  with  death. 

The  writer  thinks  it  his  duty  to  notice  in  this  memoir  that 
he  was  not  unmindful  of  the  munificent  donation,  already 
mentioned,  received  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rogers,  of  Berkeley, 
Somersetshire.  It  was  feebly  acknowledged  in  the  following 
letter :  — 

"  London,  June  7,  1824. 
"Rev.  and  Very  Dear  Sir:  — 

"  I  feel  so  grateful  to  you  for  your  very  extraordinary  liber- 
ality to  the  cause  which  absorbs  my  whole  heart, — the  pros- 
perity of  the  primitive  Church  in  the  west  of  America,  —  that 
I  am  compelled  to  write  you,  though  it  be  without  the  ordi- 
nary formalities.  I  know  you  will  forgive  my  attempt,  for  the 
sake  of  the  sincerity  with  which  it  is  made. 

"  The  permanent  extension  of  the  primitive  faith,  as  held  in 
the  doctrine  and  discipline  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  of 
her  daughter,  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  America,  I 
deem  one  of  the  most  important  objects  which  the  present  age 
presents.  To  aid  in  accomplishing  this,  you.  Rev.  and  very 
dear  sir,  have  contributed  two  hundred  pounds.  This  munifi- 
cent gift  penetrates  my  heart,  and  a  deep  sense  of  gratitude 
pervades  my  moral  frame.  As  God  is  the  fountain  of  all 
goodness,  to  Him  I  offer  my  devoutest  praise.  To  you,  his 
honored  instrument,  I  beg  leave  to  present  my  most  thankful 
regards,  and  hope  to  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  before  I 
leave  England  for  my  home  in  America. 

"The  opposition  I  meet  with  I  trust  God  will  overwhelm 
with  the  truth,  arid  the  exercise  of  that  Christian  magnanimity 
conspicuous  in  the  character  of  pious  Englishmen. 

"  I  go  to  Nayland  with  Lord  Kenyon  and  Chancellor  Mar- 
riott, and  return  on  Monday ;  stay  a  week  in  London,  and 
then  visit  Oxford.  I  remain,  dear  sir,  your  faithful  and  grate- 
ful friend  and  servant,  Philander  Chase." 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  389 

On  his  return  to  London,  the  writer  found  the  following  let- 
ter at  his  lodgings  from  his  excellent  Manchester  friend:  — 

"  Manchester,  June  7,  1824. 
" My  Dear  Friend:  — 

"  Your  favors  of  the  4th  and  5th  are  received  and  read  with 
much  interest.  I  was  aware  of  the  article  in  the  British  Critic, 
for  we  have  one  at  the  Portico.  Your  enemy  has  by  this  act 
thrown  a  firebrand  into  combustibles  which  may  consume 
him,  but  nothing  more  than  the  smoke  can  reach  you.  Indi- 
vidually you  have  nothing  to  fear  from  a  controversy ;  and  if 
you  should  have  been  the  cause  of  one  incidentally,  I  hope  a 
little  fermentation  in  the  Church  will  not  endanger  its  peace 
and  harmony,  but  merely  serve  to  carry  off  impurities,  whose 
influence  would  be  more  injurious  undiscovered  than  in  a 
state  of  exposure.  With  this,  however,  I  hope  you  will  have 
no  concern. 

"Your  materials  for  a  reply  to  the  article  are  abundant  in 
all-powerful  truth,  and  that  will  ultimately  prevail.  With 
that  weapon  and  the  able  friends  you  have  about  you,  who 
can  doubt  the  issue?  I  never  believed  that  your  opponents 
would  lose  an  opportunity  to  injure  you  and  to  prevent  the 
success  of  your  cause.  One  thing  I  regret,  and  that  is,  that 
you  have  not  got  the  'minute  of  agreement'  that  you  signed, 

and  which did  not  return.     This  he  ought  to  be  called 

upon  to  return,  or  to  write  to  you  or  some  friend  that  it  was 
destroyed. 

"  The  article  in  the  British  Critic  was  no  doubt  intended  to 
put  a  stop  to  contributions  to  your  cause,  and  it  probably  will 
prevent  the  Archbishops  (and  many  who  arc  cautious)  from 
coming  forward  in  town;  but  I  think  its  influence  in  the 
country  will  be  very  limited.  I  have  no  fears  myself,  and  am 
glad  to  hear  from  you  that  your  mind  is  firm,  notwithstand- 
ing the  malice  of  those  who  seek  your  ruin. 

"Truly  yours,  T.  Wiggin." 

Note  to  the  writer  from  good  Mr.  Butterworth :  — 

'S3* 


390  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

"  Bedford  Square,  June  7,  1824. 
"Mr.  Butterworth  presents  his  kind  respects  to  Bishop 
Chase,  and  lest,  before  he  has  the  pleasure  of  seeing  him  to- 
morrow, he  should  form  some  other  engagements,  begs  now  to 
request  the  favor  of  his  company  at  breakfast  on  Thursday 
morning  next,  in  order  afterwards  to  attend  the  anniversary 
meeting  of  the  Charity  Children  at  St.  Paul's,  which  is  the 
most  interesting  sight  to  be  present  at  of  all  the  gratifications 
presented  by  this  metropolis." 

This  meeting  of  the  Charity  Children  in  St.  Paul's  church, 
London,  the  writer  did  indeed  attend,  though  unhappily  he 
has  lost  the  record  made  of  it  at  the  time.  A  more  imposing 
sight  was  never  presented  to  his  view.  These  "little  ones" 
of  the  Church,  collected  by  her  maternal  care  from  the  most 
indigent  portions  of  the  city, — clothed,  fed  and  educated  by 
her  tenderness,  and  at  her  expense, — thirty  thousand  their 
whole  number,  the  third  part  now  actually  before  him  assem- 
bled in  decent  attire,  as  is  their  annual  custom,  to  appear 
before  the  Lord,  in  the  vast  amphitheatre  of  this  splendid 
dome,  to  offer  the  sacrifice  of  praise  and  thanksgiving  to  Him 
who  made  the  world  and  redeemed  mankind,  for  the  light  and 
influence  of  his  glorious  gospel,  without  which  the  world 
never  would  have  known  a  charity  school — made  no  ordinary 
impression  on  his  mind.  He  will  always  remember  it  as  a 
means  of  mercy  and  grace  to  his  soul  forever. 

Might,  and  majesty,  and  praise,  and  adoration,  be  ascribed 
to  the  King  of  kings  and  the  Lord  of  lords,  who  hath  gotten 
himself  the  victory  over  the  enemy  of  our  race,  to  produce 
such  a  spectacle  as  this !  A  Bishop  preached  before  a  vast 
concourse,  chiefly  of  the  clergy.  The  hymns  were  sung  from 
the  lips  of  the  Charity  Children  so  as  to  bring  tears  of  sympa- 
thetic joy  from  all. 


VISIT    TO    OXFORD. 


The  writer's  record  from  the  time  he  left  Great  Horksley, 
near  Nayland,  shows  the  following  facts  in  order :  —  • 


bishop   chase's   reminisceno-es.  391 

"Rode  with  Lord  K.  and  Mr.  Marriott  to  London  on  Mon- 
day. Same  day  dined  with  Dr.  Gaskin  at  Stoke  Newington 
parsonage.  Took  tea  at  Mr.  Freshfield's,  an  opulent  parish- 
ioner of  the  Doctor's.  Spacious  walks  over  many  acres  within 
four  miles  of  London ! 

"On  Tuesday  dined  with  Mr.  Butterworth,  M.  P. ;  present, 
the  Bishop  of  Limerick  and  others.  Wednesday,  at  Mr. 
Gibbs'.  Thursday  breakfasted  with  Mr.  Butterworth.  Mr. 
Charles  Crawley  accompanied  me  to  Mr.  Hewett's,  above  the 
Regent's  Park.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Wilks  came  in,  and  we  spent 
the  evening  most  agreeably. 

"On  Friday  dined  with  Lord  Bexley;  present,  Lord  and 
Lady  Teignmouth,  and  Mr.  Latrobe,  of  the  Moravians.  On 
Saturday  morning,  the  12th  of  June,  before  I  set  off  for 
Oxford,  before  breakfast,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  G.  W.  Marriott  and 
good  Mr.  Pratt  came  into  my  little  parlor  at  my  lodgings,  to 
see  me  and  help  me  get  ready,  to  arrange  my  papers  and 
wardrobe,  and  above  all,  to  encourage  and  bless  me." 

In  recurring  to  this  fact,  the  writer,  even  at  this  distant 
period,  can  hardly  refrain  from  tears,  to  think  of  their  kind- 
ness, how  disinterested,  how  benevolent,  and  how  tender ! 
That  day  he  went  to  Oxford,  and  the  day  following  began  his 
correspondence  with  Mr.  Marriott :  — 

"  Oxford,  June  13,  1824. 
"Very  Dear  Friend:  — 

"  Alone  in  the  coach  yesterday,  my  thoughts  had  a  fair 
opportunity  to  dwell  on  the  scene  which  had  just  occurred, 
replete  with  kindness.  You  had  written  something  in  the 
blank  loaf  of  that  work  of  Robert  Nelson  which  you  gave  me. 
In  numbering  this  with  the  other  books,  just  before  you  came 
into  my  parlor  in  Featherstonc  buildings,  yesterday  morning, 
I  had  noticed  the  tender  expressions  which  you  used  when 
conferring  this  favor  ;  and  the  recollection  of  them  was  on  my 
mind  all  the  time  you  and  Mrs.  Marriott  were  present,  and 
heightened  the  value  of  everything  you  said  or  did,  and  when 
alone  in  the  coach  I  had  time  to  think  of  you  and  of  all  your 
goodness. 


392  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

"  Nothing  occurred  on  the  journey  worth  recording  except 
the  following : — About  midway,  a  gentleman  about  the  age 
of  twenty-five,  complaining  of  cold  on  the  outside,  had  placed 
himself  within  the  coach.  Having  stopped  to  change  horses, 
another  gentleman  of  his  acquaintance  appeared  at  the  door 
of  the  coach,  and  asked  him  to  read  a  little  book  which  he  had 
been  perusing  with  much  pleasure.  He  took  it  with  some 
eagerness,  and  casting  his  eye  on  the  leaves,  threw  it  back, 
saying,  {  Some  canting  stuff— I'll  not  read  it!'  Now  this 
book,  I  had  reason  to  believe  from  what  the  gentleman  had 
said,  was  a  very  good  book,  and  because  it  was  good  the  gen- 
tleman rejected  it. 

"  And  do  men  openly  assign  the  true  reason  at  last — that 
they  reject  a  thing  because  it  is  good  ?  They  may  give  it 
some  nickname,  but  the  truth  is  evident  to  all  but  themselves. 
God  knoweth,  angels  know,  and  all  impartial  bystanders 
know,  for  they  see  that  men  reject  a  thing  simply  because  it 
is  good.  And  what  regions  can  such  as  these  inhabit  ?  Can 
they  dwell  forever  where  there  is  nothing  else  but  goodness  ? 
Suppose  we  saw  insects  flying  from  the  fragrance  of  a  rose,  as 
if  it  were  pestilence  to  them,  where  would  be  their  dwelling- 
place?  Men  who  hate  goodness  now  must  have  its  opposite 
to  dwell  in  through  eternity.  In  this  life  they  may  keep  them- 
selves in  countenance  by  calling  everything  that  is  good 
1  cant'  but  they  will  find  that  things  will  not  change  their 
nature  at  man's  bidding.  God  is  good  and  changeth  not,  and 
everything  that  draws  us  from  sin  to  him  is  good ;  and  if  man 
throws  away  the  Saviour  because  he  is  good,  he  must  take 
his  portion  with  the  destroyer,  who  is  bad. 

"  I  arrived  at  Oxford  about  five.  Found  a  note  from  Dr. 
Macbride,  to  meet  a  number  of  gentlemen  at  his  house  on 
Monday  next,  which  follows  :  — 

"•'Magdalene  Hall,  June  12,  1824. 
"'Rt.  Rev.  Sir:  — 

"  'I  learn  from  a  letter  from  Mr.  Marriott  to  a  friend  of 
mine,  that  you  purpose  passing  a  few  days  in  Oxford.  In  the 
hope  of  seeing  you,  I  have  invited  a  few  friends  to  dinner  at 


bishop  chase's  reminiscences.  393 

half  past  five  on  Monday,  when  I  trust  you  will  favor  with 
your  company  your  humble  servant, 

"  ■  T.  D.  Macbride.' 

"  Mr.  Caldicott  called.  Soon  after,  Mr.  Hawkins,  and  Mr. 
Greswell,  of  Wooster  College.  The  former  invited  me  to  dine 
next  day.  Drank  tea  with  Mr.  Greswell  and  Mr.  Caldicott, 
at  Wooster  College. 

"I  find  no  one  understands,  even  here,  among  our  best 
friends,  the  merits  of  the  Ohio  cause.  The  necessity  of  keep- 
ing silence,  which  our  wish  to  avoid  a  controversy  has  im- 
posed on  us,  has  done  us  much  harm.  You  will  be  surprised 
to  find  the  mistakes  which  are  in  circulation,  even  admitted 
by  our  friends.  The  whole  truth  is  most  desirable.  Mr.  Cal- 
dicott told  me  that  the  obscurity  of  the  '  Statement,'  put  out 
by  the  trustees  of  our  own  fund,  had  done  much  harm.  '  So 
many  things,'  said  he,  'are  kept  back,  that  it  needs  more 
knowledge  of  the  question  than  even  the  best  friends  of  the 
cause  in  Oxford  possess  to  understand  what  it  means.' 

"  On  Trinity  Sunday  I  received  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
Supper  from  the  hands  of  the  Bishop  of  Oxford,  at  the  ordina- 
tion in  Christ's  Church  cathedral ;  solemnities  very  impressive. 
Attended  St.  Mary's.  Mr.  J.  Bull  preached  an  excellent  ser- 
mon. Dined  in  the  Hall  of  Oriel,  with  the  vice-provost  and 
the  fellows,  most  agreeably.  Attended  evening  prayer  in 
Oriel  chapel.  Nothing  can  exceed  the  order  and  beauty  of 
God's  worship,  as  exemplified  in  these  young  men.  Drank 
tea  with  Mr.  Tyler  and  Mr.  Haskins. 

"On  Monday,  the  11th  of  June,  dined  with  Dr.  Macbride, 
master  of  Magdalene  Hall;  present,  the  Dean  of  Exeter,  who  is 
provost  of  Wooster  College;  the  vice-provost  of  Oriel,  Mr. 
Pusey;  Mr.  Duncan,  of  New  College;  Mr.  Barnes,  and  the 
vice-chancellor  of  the  University. 

"On  the  15th,  attended  Mr.  Buckland's  lecture  on  geology; 
exceedingly  interesting.  Dined  with  the  Duncans  and  the 
other  fellows  of  New  College.  I  found  all  things  well  except 
the  frracc,  which  was  said  by  a  person  of  inferior  rank,  and 
in  a  too  rapid  and  slovenly  manner,  to  give  room  for  the 
exercise  of  that  piety  and  gratitude  to  God  which  the  instances 


394  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

of  his  bounty  before  us  so  forcibly  suggest.  You  know,  dear 
Marriott,  my  best  of  friends,  that  I  am  no  itinerant  croaker ; 
so  far  from  it,  that  I  deserve,  perhaps,  to  be,  as  I  pass  through 
this  blessed  country  and  behold  its  manifold  perfections,  re- 
garded as  an  indiscriminating  panegyrist,  who,  good-natured 
soul !  being  pleased  on  the  whole,  cannot  find  time,  place,  or 
disposition,  to  make  distinctions  and  find  fault.  But  in  the 
instance  alluded  to,  I  feel  too  deeply  the  importance  of  the 
subject  to  be  silent. 

"I  would  consider  God  as  our  father,  the  Church  as  our 
mother,  and  ourselves  as  the  children.  The  father  giveth,  the 
mother  prepareth,  and  the  children  receive  and  enjoy,  the 
unmerited,  innumerable  mercies.  When  these  are  spread 
most  copiously  before  us,  the  mother,  in  obedience  to  our 
father's  command,  ordains  that  acknowledgment  be  made  on 
the  part  of  the  children  of  the  bountiful  goodness  of  the  father, 
and  a  sense  of  their  own  dependence.  Query :  In  what  man- 
ner ought  this  to  be  done?  Answer:  The  same  as  that  which 
He  delights  to  behold  in  his  dutiful  and  grateful  children; 
deliberately,  distinctly,  sincerely ;  in  a  form  not  too  long,  nor 
said  for  ostentation  and  display,  but  the  reverse.  It  should  be 
said  solemnly,  yet  modestly,  and  with  gravity.  To  which  end, 
and  for  the  honor  of  the  Father,  it  should  be  said  by  the  chief 
of  his  sons  present.  To  delegate  this  duty  to  inferior  parts  of 
the  family  is  indecorous  and  unbecoming. 

"  At  New  College  the  dinner  was  most  pleasant,  the  com- 
pany of  the  students  and  fellows  was  most  agreeable,  and  the 
attention  paid  to  your  friend  was  much  more  than  he  de- 
serves. A  desire  to  be  of  use  to  the  Ohio  cause  was  manifest 
in  many.  With  these  gentlemen  I  attended  their  chapel 
services,  I  hope  with  profit.  The  anthems  in  choirs  I  think 
exquisite.  The  grounds  and  gardens  attached  to  the  college 
are  very  pleasing ;  from  them  we  have  a  view  of  the  magnifi- 
cent tower  of  Magdalene. 

"To-day,  the  15th  of  June,  at  twelve  o'clock,  I  had  an 
interview  with  Dr.  Copleston.  He  spoke  most  freely  to  me, 
and  manifested  great  friendship.  Received  a  letter  from  Lord 
Kenyon;  shall  answer  it  to  Gredington.     Robert  Caldicott  is 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  395 

more  my  friend  than  you  can  imagine.  Greswell  and  Pusey 
are  my  next  best. 

"Wednesday,  was  taken  very  ill  while  at  the  vice-chancel- 
lor's dinner  with  my  old  complaint  of  sick  headache.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Niblock  kindly  called  to  see  me  at  the  King's  Arms. 
On  Thursday  many  persons  called  to  see  me  from  nine  till 
three.  At  five  I  accompanied  Mr.  Hutton,  a  nephew  of  Lady 
Palmer,  to  dinner  at  Magdalene  Hall.  Was  introduced  to  the 
president  and  vice-president,  the  fellows,  and  many  strangers. 

"If  it  please  God,  I  shall  leave  Oxford  on  Saturday;  shall 
spend  Sunday  at  Iver  Grove  with  good  Lord  Gambier,  and 
see  you  by  Monday  noon. 

"N.  B.  If  I  go  to  America  this  year  it  behooves  me  to 
hasten.  The  Alleghanies  must  be  crossed  with  my  family 
before  cold  weather.  A  fair  copy  of  my  deed  of  gift,  accom- 
panied by  the  conditions,  countersigned  by  the  trustees  of  the 
fund,  must  be  furnished  me  before  I  go.  Tell  Mr.  Pratt  to 
send  the  first  copy  to  Lord  Gambier  for  his  signature." 

Here  end  the  few  extracts  from  the  letters  written  to  Mr. 
Marriott  while  the  writer  was  in  Oxford.  His  success  he 
owes  to  the  goodness  of  his  cause  and  the  influence  of  his 
friends,  at  whose  suggestion  many  civilities  were  paid  him, 
which,  considering  the  very  great  prejudices  existing  against 
him  in  that  University,  were  highly  gratifying  to  his  feel- 
ings and  favorable  to  his  cause.  The  impression  made  on  his 
mind  when  he  left  that  hospitable  city  of  colleges,  famous  for 
their  deep  erudition,  was  that  of  veneration  and  gratitude. 

On  the  writer's  arrival  in  London  from  Oxford,  he  found  the 
following  letter  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dallin  :  — 

"York,  June  16,  1824. 
"  Right  Rev.  and  Very  Dear  Sir  :  — 

"  It  was  with  peculiar  pleasure  that  I  could  perceive,  in 
reading  your  letter,  the  Christian  submission  and  cheerfulness 
with  which  you  bear  the  bereavement  which  it  has  pleased 
Almighty  God  to  add  to  your  cares  and  anxieties.  The  more 
the  event  is  considered  in  connection  with  its  circumstances, 
so  instructive  to  those  your  son  has  left  behind,  and  with  its 


396  BISHOP   chase's   reminiscences. 

happy  consequences  to  himself,  the  greater  reason  will  you 
have  to  rejoice,  and  your  friends  to  rejoice  with  you.  I  men- 
tioned in  my  last  letter,  that  Bishop  Bowen's  account  of  your 
son's  death  had  been  lent  to  several  of  your  friends  in  this  place : 
it  has  given  the  greatest  pleasure  to  observe  how  graciously 
our  Heavenly  Father  deals  with  his  children,  as  they  have  to 
pass  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  giving  them  strength 
equal  to  their  day.  The  account  is  truly  instructive,  and  the 
reperusal  of  it  excites  fresh  interest  in  my  mind ;  and  judging 
from  the  description  of  your  son's  piety  as  it  is  related  to  us,  I 
cannot  but  be  confident  of  the  effect  it  must  have  produced 
among  those  who  witnessed  it.  Thus  Almighty  God  appoints 
that  some  should  glorify  him  by  a  continued  life  of  faithful 
services,  and  others  by  their  early  deaths,  snatched  away  from 
whatever  in  this  life  can  gratify  the  mind  of  man.  In  every 
case,  the  death  of  his  saints  is  precious,  and,  exhibiting  the 
power  of  his  holy  and  eternal  truth,  spreads  abroad  the  savor 
of  His  name,  and  of  that  Redeemer  who  has  purchased  us 

with  his  blood. 

"lam  much  obliged  by  the  detailed  accounts  you  have 
given  me,  in  answer  to  the  inquiries  of  my  last  letter :  they 
are  very  acceptable  to  me.  Since  I  received  the  printed  list 
with  which  you  favored  me,  I  have  seen  one  which  brings 
down  the  subscriptions  to  a  later  period;  and  from  that  it 
appears  that  they  have  amounted  to  the  sum  which  is  neces- 
sary for  a  commencement  in  your  plans,  so  that  your  visit  to 
this  country  cannot  now  fail  of  its  object.  As  much  more  as 
can  be  obtained  will  add  to  the  efficiency  of  your  undertak- 
ings in  your  diocese,  and  I  hope  will  considerably  exceed  the 
present  amount.  If  I  recollect  right,  I  did  not  perceive  dona- 
tions from  Bristol.  Your  friends  in  London  will  no  doubt 
bring  your  claims  to  the  notice  of  that  important  place  and  its 
vicinity.  I  believe  there  are  many  wealthy  people  there,  and 
that  they  are  in  general  good  givers.  The  subscriptions  from 
Manchester  are  singularly  liberal,  especially  from  Mr.  Wig- 
gin's  family.     Those  of  Lady  Dowager  Rosse  are  munificent. 

"I  perceive  with  great  pleasure  that  our  prelates  are  coming 
forward  in  support  of  your  plans.  Dr.  Gaskin  also  takes  a 
part  in  your  concerns;  his  name  is  subscribed  to  the  last 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  397 

statement  published.  If  I  understand  the  view  this  gentle- 
man takes  of  religious  concerns,  none  of  our  clergy  will 
feel  adverse  to  you,  now  that  he  is  satisfied.  Countenance 
from  this  quarter  is  doubtless  important  to  you,  on  account  of 
what  has  taken  place  in  your  native  land  respecting  your 
mission  to  this  country.  All  pretension  that  you  have  de- 
graded the  American  Church  in  the  eyes  of  the  Church  of 
England  must  be  put  out  of  countenance.  The  contrary  is 
most  certainly  the  case ;  you  have  raised  it  in  our  estimation, 
and  endeared  it  to  us.  Thus  God's  good  providence  is  pros- 
pering your  wise  and  judicious  plans,  and  in  that  point  in 
which  you  were,  and  could  not  but  feel,  concerned  and 
anxious;  viz.,  in  relation  to  the  part  the  superior  clergy 
amongst  us  might  think  proper  to  act.  It  is  painful  to  see  the 
part  which  some  person  has  acted,  in  publishing  the  pam- 
phlet you  mention.  It  comes,  however,  much  too  late  to  do 
your  cause  any  injury.  The  only  fear  on  this  point  I  think 
is,  lest  there  should  be  any  animosities  in  the  minds  of  the 
clergy  of  your  Church  still  remaining,  which  might  be 
troublesome  to  you  on  your  return.  But  on  this  point  also, 
an  assured  trust  may  well  be  placed  in  that  good  Providence 
which  has  hitherto  so  kindly  carried  on  your  affairs. 

"  Scarborough,  June  23.  Having  been  called  to  preach  the 
Visitation  sermon  here  yesterday,  I  was  obliged  to  lay  aside 
this  letter  till  to-day.  I  have  no  York  news  but  this,  that 
your  friends  there  were  all  well  on  Monday. 

"If  you  should  have  leisure  before   you  leave  London,  I 

shall  be  obliged  by  your  sending  me 's  pamphlet,  Bishop 

B 's  and  Mr.  W 's  American  Education  Appeal,  and 

the  list  of  subscriptions  up  to  the  present  time.  I  would  not 
trouble  you  for  the  two  former  publications,  bi it  I  despair  of 
the  booksellers  in  York  yetting  them  for  me.  I  shall  return 
thither  to-morrow. 

"  I  look  lor  my  text  yesterday,  Matt  xxviii.  20:  '  Lo,  I  am 
with  you,'  &c.  How  full  of  comfort  is  this  and  many  such 
precious  promises  tons!  O!  for  stronger  faith  to  live  upon 
them.  The  congregation  were  very  attentive,  and  seemed  as 
much  interested  in  hearing  as  I  had  been  in  composing  the 
sermon.     The  leading  idea  in    my  mind  through  the  whole 

::i 


398  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

was  this,  that  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  will  most  cer- 
tainly, amidst  all  discouragements,  accomplish  the  purposes 
of  his  commission;  viz.,  by  his  ministers. 

"  But  I  must  draw  to  a  close,  by  assuring  you  that  I  am 
and  shall  always  be  your  faithful  and  respectful  friend  and 
servant,  James  Dallin." 

On  the  22d  of  June,  wrote  the  following  letter  to  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Ward :  — 

"No.  10  Feather  stone  buildings,  ? 
June  22,  1824.  S 

M  Rev.  and  Very  Dear  Sir  :  — 

"  If  I  were  asked  why  I  think  so  much  of  my  visit  to  Great 
Horksley,  near  Nayland,  my  reply  would  be  divided  into 
chapters. 

"I.  I  should  have  something  to  say  of  yourself — how  we 
met  in  your  blooming  clover-fields,  and  how  soon  we  were 
1  acquaint ;'  how,  from  the  borders  of  your  glebe  and  summit 
of  your  hill,  you,  like  Moses  on  Pisgah,  pointed  out  the  goodly 
land  before  us  — a  land  not  indeed  of  'promise,'  but  of  sweet 
remembrance,  —  for  such  it  was  to  the  noble  Kenyon.  linger- 
ing with  moistened  eye  behind  us,  and  relating  to  his  and  our 
good  friend  Marriott  how,  in  that  loved  spot,  that  lone  village, 
now  so  much  esteemed,  he  had  been  taught  the  ways  of  wis- 
dom by  Jones  of  Nayland. 

"II.  Mrs.  W.,  that  nameless  air  of  dignity  and  love, 
which,  like  the  radiance  round  the  prophet's  head,  is  visible 
to  all  but  himself  who  in  meekness  wears  it ;  this  should  fill 
up  the  second  chapter. 

"III.  The  third  should  be  exhausted  in  describing  your 
dinner-party.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Sims  and  others,  with  their  sage 
remarks ;  the  reminiscences  of  good  and  sainted  Jones ;  how 
he  died  in  faith  of  a  heavenly  Canaan,  his  favorite  topic ;  how 
he  blessed  the  Lord  that  Jordan's  flood  was  stayed  by  the  ark 
of  God's  covenant  in  Jesus  Christ,  so  that  even  he,  who  had 
dreaded  death  through  the  whole  journey  of  life,  saw  now  in 
him  no  terrors.  '  If  this  be  dying,  my  fears  were  groundless,' 
said  he,  and  leaped  on  the  heavenly  shore. 

"  IV.  And  what  have  I  for  this  chapter  1     Let  your  daugh- 


bishop  chase's  reminiscences.  399 

ters  come  in  for  their  full  share  in  this  book  of  delights. 
Flowers  they  are  of  the  sweetest  fragrance;  wet  with  the 
dews  of  heavenly  grace,  they  bend  their  modest  heads  to  the 
'Day-Spring  from  on  high,'  'the  Dawn,'  the  Sun  of  Right- 
eousness. O !  may  His  rays  ever  beam  gently  on  them,  not 
in  a  consuming  fire,  but  in  the  effulgence  of  love,  as  of  glory 
through  the  covering  of  the  tabernacle,  till  changing  more  and 
more,  from  flowers  to  fruit,  they  at  length  become  fit  for  the 
heavenly  Master's  use. 

"  Dear  friend,  this  is  indeed  a  florid  and  a  fruitful  subject, 
and  if  it  do  but  lead  us  on  to  our  prayers,  so  much  the  better. 
I  love  a  garden  and  I  love  innocence,  for  they  were  man's 
enjoyments  before  the  fall ;  and  if,  even  now,  we  would  be 
happy,  happy  as  this  poor  world  can  make  us,  we  must  seek 
the  new  Eden  and  the  innocence  of  Jesus. 

"  I  can  hardly  bring  myself  to  believe,  much  less  to  tell  you, 
that,  notwithstanding  all  my  endeavors,  I  cannot  go  again 
to  Horksley.  It  grieves  me  to  the  heart  to  think  I  can  no 
more  see  you  on  this  side  of  heaven.  My  pressing  necessity 
of  returning  immediately  to  Ohio  forbids  me  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  you  and  your  lovely  family  again.    God's  will  be  done ! 

The  month  of  September  is  the  only  month  in  which  it  is 
even  tolerable  to  a  young  and  tender  family  in  passing  from 
New  York  to  Ohio  —  six  hundred  miles.  One  fortnight  in  the 
preparation,  and  nine  or  twelve  days  to  New  Hampshire  and 
Vermont,  to  visit  my  relatives,  and  one  month  or  more  in 
crossing  the  Atlantic— what  portion  of  time  then  remains  for 
me  in  England?  Very  little.  The  16th  of  next  month  is  the 
furtherest.  In  the  mean  while  I  must  go  to  Devonshire  and 
Bristol.  O,  my  dear  friend  !  you  and  I  must  meet  hereafter 
only  at  the  throne  of  grace.  We  have  one  heaven  to  go  to ; 
there  let  us  meet  as  oft  in  prayer,  so  finally  in  happiness. 

"  Ever  faithful,  Philandkk  Chase." 

The  following  is  Mr.  Ward's  reply : 

"Great  Horksley,  June  24,  1824. 
"My  Dear  Bump:  — 

"  It  is  impossible  that  you  could  be  more  -ratified  with  the 

visit  with  which  you  have  honored  US  than  we  have  been.     I 


400  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

thank  my  God  that  I  have  lived  to  see  an  American  Bishop 
under  my  roof —  a  Bishop  whom  my  children  will  never  for- 
get, and  whose  words  will  remain  engraven  on  their  memo- 
ries, and  be  transmitted  perhaps  to  their  children  long  after 
you  and  I  are  in  our  graves.  But  are  we  indeed  to  see  you 
no  more?  This  indeed  is  a  sad  disappointment  to  all  this 
house,  and  many  in  this  neighborhood.  Had  I  foreseen  this, 
I  should  have  made  a  better  use  of  my  time  while  you  were 
with  me,  for  I  had  a  thousand  questions  to  ask  about  Amer- 
ica. 

"Oj  my  dear  Bishop,  strive  and  pray  against  disunion.  It 
was  the  first  thing  that  the  devil  endeavored  to  introduce  in 
the  Church  between  Paul  and  Apollos.  Heresy,  heterodoxy, 
envy,  ambition,  and  worldly-mindedness,  are  the  implements 
he  works  with.  Let  the  servants  of  Christ  be  on  their  guard 
against  these,  for  they  will  be  sure  to  meet  with  them ;  but  so 
long  as  they  are  one  with  Christ  and  Christ  with  them,  they 
have  nothing  to  fear.  Bearing  and  forbearing,  and  overcoming 
evil  with  good,  is  the  great  art  of  war  in  the  Church  militant. 
The  meek  shall  inherit  the  earth,  even  the  earth  lately  re- 
claimed from  the  desert  in  Ohio. 

"  Surely  nothing  but  calls  indispensable  should  induce  you 
to  leave  this  country  before  you  have  done  everything  that 
can  be  done  to  accomplish  your  object.  Surely  you  mean  to 
visit  Ireland.  Rest  assured  there  is  a  spirit  in  that  nation 
which  you  can  form  no  idea  of  in  this  country,  unless  you 
take  my  little  Mary  Ohio  as  a  small  item  of  Irish  enthusiasm. 
Would  that  all  the  Church  of  England  felt  for  the  spiritual 
wants  of  the  Church  of  America  as  this  dear  child  does.  She 
is  working  hard  for  the  children  of  Ohio.  I  hope  the  prayers 
of  them  and  their  Bishop  will  attend  her.  She  has  named  the 
room  you  slept  in  Ohio ;  she  has  written  all  her  effusions  to 
some  friends  in  and  near  Exeter,  and  we  have  written  also, 
and  sent  several  of  the  Appeals,  and  the  '  Letter  to  Lord  Ken- 
yon.'  We  have  many  friends  there,  all  of  whom  shall  be  pre- 
pared to  receive  you ;  and  should  you  go  to  Dublin,  I  shall 
be  happy  to  introduce  you  to  some  of  the  choice  ones  of  the 
earth.  You  shall  not  be  forgotten,  nor  the  cause  you  have  at 
heart :  and  do  not  forget  us,  I  pray. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  401 

"You  are  very  good  to  caution  me  against  too  strong  at- 
tachment to  my  happy  earthly  lot ;  but  a  minister  of  Christ, 
who  feels  his  awful  responsibility,  and  his  sad  infirmities,  will 
always  have  enough  to  humble  him,  and  the  three  great  ene- 
mies of  his  salvation  will  never  fail  to  spoil  his  paradise  on 
earth,  and  make  him  know  and  feel  that  there  is  no  real  rest, 
or  peace,  or  true  happiness,  on  this  side  of  heaven.  —  iIn  coelo 
qities?  It  was  a  saying  of  the  good  old  Jones,  that  he  never 
went  into  a  parish  where  he  did  not  meet  the  devil.  You  are  not 
to  be  surprised,  therefore,  if  the  devil  oppose  your  great  under- 
taking in  the  diocese  of  Ohio.  Being  a  bulwark  erected  and 
directly  aimed  against  his  kingdom,  he  will  do  everything 
in  his  power  to  thwart  and  destroy  it.  I  am  sorry  he  has 
annoyed  you  in  England,  but  that  excellent  '  Letter  to  Lord 
Kenyon'*  will,  I  am  persuaded,  frustrate  his  mischievous 
attack  in  the  British  Critic. 

"  I  hope  we  shall  be  able  to  do  something  for  your  cause  in 
Colchester,  but  not  near  so  much  as  if  you  could  have  come 
down.  We  shall  be  anxious  to  know  your  success  in  the  west. 
I  expect  great  things  await  you  in  Bristol,  and  Exeter,  and 
Bath. 

" Adieu !  my  dear  Bishop.  May  the  great  Shepherd  and 
Bishop  preserve  and  prosper  you.  Your  letter  shall  be  treas- 
ured by  my  children  as  a  grateful  memorial  of  you,  and  we 
shall  never  cease  to  love  and  bless  you,  and  your  dear  wife 
and  children.  Pray,  when  you  see  the  excellent  Lord  Ken- 
yon,  remember  us  all  to  him.  I  feel  the  sincerest  respect  and 
esteem  for  his  Lordship,  as  well  as  for  your  zealous  friend, 
Mr.  Marriott. 

"  Believe  me,  my  dear  Bishop,  your  ever  devoted  servant 
in  the  Lord,  W.  Ward." 

On  the  23d  of  June,  the  writer  again  paid  his  respects  to  the 
Bishop  of  Salisbury,  and  the  afternoon  he  passed  most  agree- 
ably with  the  Marriotts,  in  Queen's  square. 

*  "  First  letter  of  Rev.  J.  Pratt  in  vindication  of  Bishop  Chase  against  his  enemies." 

34* 


402  BISHOP   chase's    reminiscences. 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 

VARIOUS    SCENES    AND    INCIDENTS VISIT    TO    MRS.    HANNAH    MORE 

PREPARATIONS    FOR    RETURNING    TO    AMERICA. 

On  the  24th  of  June  the  writer  breakfasted  with  good  Mr. 
Pratt  and  family,  and  the  same  day  went,  according  to  ap- 
pointment, down  to  Mitcham,  in  company  with  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Marriott,  and  their  daughter  Salina.  The  object  of  this  jour- 
ney was  to  pay  a  visit  to  good  Mr.  Hoare,  the  banker  of  the 
Ohio  fund,  and  to  be  introduced  to  his  daughter  and  son-in- 
law,  Sir  Thomas  and  Lady  Acland,  persons  of  uncommon 
merit ;  and,  indeed,  he  found  them  such,  in  all  respects  most 
excellent.  His  reception  there  was  most  affectionate,  and 
indicative  of  great  goodness,  the  most  finished  urbanity,  and 
gentleness  of  manners. 

In  the  course  of  the  afternoon,  Sir  Thomas  urgently  re- 
quested to  introduce  the  writer  to  his  friends  in  Bristol,  Blaise 
Castle,  Barleywood  and  Devonshire,  to  which  end  appoint- 
ments were  made  and  all  things  arranged.  The  dinner  and 
company  were  most  agreeable,  and  when  it  was  closed,  the 
company,  servants  and  all,  were  twenty-four,  who  kneeled 
down  and  joined  in  family  worship. 

Rode  to  London  in  the  same  evening,  and  the  next  day,  the 
25th,  dined,  by  particular  invitation,  with  Mr.  J.  Goldsmith, 
32  Dowee  square;  present,  Mrs.  Frederick  Thurston,  Lord 
and  Lady  Seymour,  Col.  Cheney,  Bishop  Jebb,  of  Limerick, 
Rt.  Hon.  Henry  Golbourn  and  his  brother  Edward.  A  com- 
pany so  respectable  for  their  station  and  urbanity,  as  well  as 
for  their  learning  and  piety,  could  not  but  be  highly  inter- 
esting to  the  writer.  As  if  now  before  him,  he  sees  this  con- 
stellation of  English  worthies,  and  is  thankful  to  God  for  the 
privilege. 

The  day  following,  26th  of  June,  as  previously  arranged  by 
friends,  the  writer  went  to  the  city  of  Colchester,  and  was 
introduced  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hutton,  Sen.,  and  to  his  excellent 
wife,  sister  to  Lady  Palmer,  and  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Marsh.  At 
six,  went  over  to  see  "  once  more"  the  dear  friends  at  Horks- 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  403 

ley !     Early  Sunday  morning  returned  alone  in  Mr.  Ward's 
coach,  and  attended  church  in  Colchester  all  day. 

The  particulars  of  this  day's  enjoyments,  with  those  of  Mon- 
day in  the  Castle,  when  so  many  met  to  hear  Mr.  Marsh,  Mr. 
Ward,  and  others,  set  forth  the  claims  of  Ohio,  are  marked 
down  with  a  pencil,  illegible  to  all  but  to  one  who  has  them,  and 
very  many  instances  of  kindness  shown  him  in  this  ancient 
city,  inscribed  in  his  heart.  Never  was  there  a  more  kind 
and  sympathizing  people  than  the  Christian  citizens  of  Col- 
chester, Old  England.  Mrs.  Hutton  and  her  daughters  came 
up  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Marsh's  to  bid  farewell.  At  parting,  the 
persons  who  kneeled  down  to  pray  for  a  blessing  were  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Marsh,  Rev.  Mr.  (afterwards  Bishop)  Ward,  his 
daughter  Charlotte,  Mrs.  Ravenscroft,  Mrs.  Marsh  and  four 
children. 


JUNE  29. 


"Went  to  London,  the  scene  of  my  sorrows  and  my  joys, 
and  this  day  of  my  '-farewells:  A  few  choice  ones  met  at 
Mr.  Coulburn's,  — Mr.  Justice  Park,  Charles  Crawley,  Miss 
Macfarlane,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marriott,— to  dine  at  five. 
We  talked  of  what  was  past,  and  with  pious  confidence  looked 
forward  to  future  fields  of  duty  and  of  sufferings.  God's 
promises  in  Jesus  Christ,  like  the  pillar  of  fire  on  the  ark  of 
the  covenant,  were  at  once  our  guide  and  support,  that  '  as 
our  day  was,  so  should  our  strength  be ! ' 

':  How  affecting  the  last  parting  kindness  of  such  friends  as 
these !  Mr.  Marriott  accompanied  me  to  Piccadilly,  and  there, 
at  half  past  eight,  June  29,  1824,  we  parted  to  meet  no  more 
till  the  great  day!" 

The  writer  rode  all  night,  and  arrived  at  Bristol  at  ten  in 
the  morning  of  the  last  day  of  June.  Received  a  kind  note 
from  Mr.  John  T.  Harford,  to  dine  that  day,  and  one  from  the 
Dean  of  Bristol,  to  breakfast  tin;  following  morning. 

It  was  a  bachelor's  breakfast,  and  entirely  alone  with  the 
good  Dean;  yet  it  was  most  pleasant;  and  the  acquaintance 
thus  happily  Ix'LMin  was  continued,  mueh  to  the  satisfaction  of 
the  writer,  as  they  rode  together  the  same  day  over  the  high 


404  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

hills  to  Blaise  Castle,  a  place  commanding  a  full  view  of  Bris- 
tol bay  and  harbor.  The  mansion-house  is  surrounded  with 
a  thick  wood,  except  at  intervals,  through  which  are  seen  the 
gardens  and  the  dairy-house,  neatly  and  conveniently  built. 

There  were  present  at  Blaise  Castle  on  the  occasion  referred 
to,  1st  July,  the  following  persons:— Lord  and  Lady  William 
Somerset,  the  Bishop  of  St.  David's,  Sir  Thomas  and  Lady 
Acland,  Rev.  Mr.  Trevelyon,  Rev.  Mr.  Gray,  Mr.  Gray,  Sir 
Edmund  C.  Hartopp,  Mr.  Grove,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harford,  the 
Bishop  of  Ohio,  the  Dean  of  Bristol,  and  Mr.  Harford  Bat- 
tersby.  To  describe  an  afternoon  and  evening  spent  in  such 
company  in  England,  would  be  to  write  a  book. 

The  good  Bishop  of  St.  David's  seemed,  when  on  the  subject 
of  the  Ohio  claims,  to  open  his  heart  and  pour  forth  his  good 
wishes  without  measure.  The  conclusion  of  one  of  his  sen- 
tences to  the  writer  was  a  blessing  most  fervent.  "  May  God 
bless  you  in  this  work ! "  said  he :  "  may  God  bless  you  in  all 
you  think,  in  all  you  say,  and  in  all  you  do  ! " 

It  had  been  agreed  that  the  writer  should  accompany  Sir 
Thomas  and  Lady  Acland  into  Devonshire,  and  in  so  doing 
would  pass  by  Barley  wood,  the  residence  of  the  pious  and 
distinguished  Mrs.  Hannah  More.  What  rendered  this  visit  an 
indispensable  item  in  the  route  to  Devonshire  was  the  reception 
of  a  note  from  Mrs.  More  herself,  inviting  the  writer,  in  the 
most  affectionate  terms,  to  pay  her  a  visit.  This  relic  of  that 
most  esteemed  lady  is  here  subjoined :  — 

"  Mrs.  Hannah  More  presents  her  most  respectful  regards  to 
the  Bishop  of  Ohio.  By  a  letter  just  received  from  Sir  Thomas 
Acland,  she  is  encouraged  to  natter  herself  with  the  hope  of 
a  visit  from  the  Bishop  on  Friday.  Honors  are  not  always 
pleasures ;  but  in  the  accomplishment  of  this  kind  plan  they 
will  be  identified.  Sir  Thomas  hopes  to  get  away  from  his 
sick  sister  in  time  to  accompany  the  Bishop.  Should  that  not 
be  the  case,  Mr.  Harford  will  have  the  goodness  to  give  him 
the  necessary  information  for  reaching  Barleywood,  where  he 
will  condescend  to  visit  a  convalescent  in  her  sick  cham- 
ber, who  will  be  much  gratified  to  see  him.  —  Barleywood, 
Wednesday ,  June  30,  1824." 


bishop   chase's  reminiscences.  405 

Early  in  the  day  of  the  2d  of  July,  Barley  wood  was  descried 
by  Sir  Thomas  Acland,  and  pointed  out  to  the  writer,  as  they 
sat  together  on  the  "outside"  of  a  post-coach  to  enjoy  the 
passing  scenery,  while  Lady  Acland  and  the  children  were 
"inside"  below.     "There  she  is,  in  the  bow  window  in  the 
second  story,  looking  out  for  us !     Now  she  sees  us,  and  now 
she  salutes  us  in  her  best  manner !     This  is  the  woman  who 
has  done  so  much  good  in  the  world!"     By  this  time  the 
postilion  had  driven  us  swiftly  around  to  the  entrance,  and  we 
alighted  in  Barleywood  house,  which,  however   humble,  is 
more  celebrated  than  an  eastern  palace  of  a  king.     The  ill 
health  of  this  dear  lady  would  not  allow  us  the  pleasure  of 
speaking  with  her  till  we  entered  her  own  room  above,  whence 
she  had  seen  us  coming. 

With  Sir  Thomas  Mrs.  More  used  all  cordial  frankness, 
elevated  sentiment,  and  chastised  wit.     Towards  the  stranger 
from  America  her  manners  were  in  every  respect  engaging. 
A  mellowed  courteousness  bespoke  both  her  humility   and 
mental  greatness ;  and  towards  the  polished  Lady  Acland  she 
gave  loose  to  those  endearing  qualities  which  bind  British 
females  so  closely  to  each  other.     Not  a  moment  of  time  was 
left  unoccupied.     Words  fitly  spoken,  like  apples  of  gold  in 
network  of  silver,  filled  every  vacant  space  in  conversation. 
No  one  seemed  restive  or  jealous  of  his  privilege  to  tell  the 
next  story ;  yet  his  turn  came,  and  all  would  listen  and  feel 
the  full  force  of  what  was  said.     The  whole  garden,  full  of 
the  flowers  of  literature,  was  open,  and  each  might  enter  and 
cull  from  thence  what  flower  he  pleased ;  and  should  it  vary 
in  color  or  fragrance  from  those  of  others,  so  much  the  better 
it  occupied  its  appropriate  place  in  the  nosegay  tied  together 
by  good  English  humor.     The  pious  matron  of  Barleywood, 
however,  would  never  suffer  one  flower,  nay,  two,  to  be  omit- 
ted, viz.,  "  the  Rose  of  Sharon"  and  "  the  Lily  of  the  Valley," 
— Jesus  Christ   and   his  holy  religion   in   the  hearts  of  men. 
These  seemed  essential  to  her  enjoyment 

The  next  (lay,  bidding  adieu  to  this  most  eminent  Christian 
lady,  the  writer  proceeded  to  the  residence  of  the  Bev.  John 
Marriott,  in  Devonshire,  brother  to  the  two  worthy  and  most 
esteemed   person*  who  have  bofne   BO  <<-ni>icuous  apart  in 


406  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

these  memoirs.  The  writer's  reception  here  was  in  every 
respect  becoming  a  minister  of  Christ  to  afford  to  a  fellow-dis- 
ciple of  the  Cross.  In  him  were  united  the  pastor  of  a  flock 
and  a  friend  of  the  stranger.  While  he  paid  all  due  attention 
to  the  latter,  the  former  were  not  neglected.  This  the  writer 
witnessed,  as  with  him  he  visited  the  sick,  and  heard  his  pious 
coimsel  to  the  young,  and  his  admonitions  to  those  who  had 
erred  from  the  path  of  duty.  This  dear  man  has  now  gone  to 
his  high  reward;  but  the  effects  of  his  example  doubtless 
remain  for  a  memorial  of  him. 

While  here  the  writer  received  the  following  letter  from 
Lady  Sparrow,  highly  commendatory  of  Mr.  J.  Marriott,  and 
rejoicing  at  the  writer's  visit  to  Devonshire :  — 

"  Brampton  Park,  June  30,  1824. 
"  Dear  Bishop:  — 

"  Though  much  hurried  at  this  moment,  having  some 
friends  in  the  house  and  momentarily  expecting  two  more 
(Lord  Calthorpe  and  Bishop  Jebb,  of  Limerick,  with  the  last 
of  whom  I  hope  to  have  much  converse  about  you,)  I  will  not 
delay  a  few  lines,  as  yours  just  received  tells  me  you  are  going 
to  Mr.  Marriott's,  which  I  did  not  know  you  intended,  and 
which  I  hear  with  much  pleasure,  as  he  is  a  very  excellent 
and  agreeable  man,  who  adorns  as  well  as  supports  his  Mas- 
ter's cause.  Pray  remember  me  very  kindly  to  him,  and  tell 
him  I  hope  he  means  I  should  see  him  when  opportunity  per- 
mits it.  You  will  also  meet  a  promising  youth,  a  nephew  of 
mine,  the  only  son  of  my  eldest  brother,  who  I  hope  will 
receive  your  blessing  and  find  it  blessed  to  him. 

"I  rejoice  to  find  you  have  the  active  support  of  the  truly 
amiable  Sir  Thomas  Acland ;  and  though  I  cannot  but  regret 
not  having  the  pleasure  of  further  intercourse  with  you,  yet  I 
feel  persuaded  that  your  cause  will  be  as  warmly  supported 
when  you  are  away  as  when  here.  I  trust  you  will  have  the 
happiness  of  finding  all  those  nearest  to  you  on  earth  well  in 
every  respect,  and  that  your  highest  pastoral  wishes  may 
receive  the  fullest  accomplishment. 

"I  shall  feel  much  gratified  by  a  few  lines,  when  your 
leisure  permits  it,  in  your  distant  abode,  and  it  is  a  source  of 


bishop  chase's  reminiscences.  407 

higher  gratification  to  feel  assured  that  you  will  there  occa- 
sionally, when  you  go  to  the  throne  of  grace,  remember  your 
cordially  sincere  and  obliged  friend, 

"Olivia  B.  Sparrow. 
" N.  B.     Lord  and  Lady  Mandeville,  as  usual,  desire  to  be 
kindly  remembered.     You  have  not  given  me  the  information 
I  want  as  to  the  mode  of  addressing  you." 

The  following  is  from  the  writer  to  his  wife  in  America, 
and  was  dated  while  at  the  Rev.  Mr.  Marriott's:  — 

"  Broad  Clist,  near  Exeter,  Devonshire,  July  4,  1824. 
"My  Dear,  Dear  Wife:  — 

"After  mature  consultation  among  all  my  friends,  it  is 
agreed  that  I  leave  England  for  America  on  the  16th  of  this 
present  month,  July.  This  determination  was  made  previ- 
ously to  my  leaving  London,  which  was  at  eight  o'clock 
P.  M.  on  Wednesday  of  last  week;  i.  e.,  the  last  Wednesday 
in  June,  1824.  You  see  that  I  am  now  in  Devonshire,  the 
south-western  part  of  the  island.  How  I  came  here,  and  with 
what  adventures  I  have  met — luck  good  or  ill  from  the  hand 
of  a  wise  Providence — I  cannot  now  inform  you.  My  friends 
are  all  kindness  and  zeal.  The  enemy  seems  for  a  moment 
silent.  The  'Letter  to  Lord  Kenyon,'  which  I  sent  you 
some  time  ago,  has  stopped  all  mouths  and  dissipated  all  sur- 
mises. 

"  On  the  10th  inst.  I  am  to  be  at  Manchester,  where  I  hope 
to  spend  a  few  days,  till  the  15th,  in  preparations  for  the 
voyage.  Lord  Kenyon,  who  has  some  relations  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, will  meet  me  under  Mr.  Wiggins  hospitable  roof. 
They  met  in  London,  and  were  mutually  pleased.  The 
voyage  will  be  hence  to  New  York,  at  this  season,  about  forty 
days.  Lord  Gambier,  an  old  seaman,  told  me  this.  He  has 
proved  most  affectionate  as  well  as  faithful. 

"God  Almighty  protect  and  bless  us  both  and  our  dear 
children.  Pray  get  everything  ready  far  an  immediate  jour- 
ney to  ( >hio.  ( )ur  success  has  been  signal ;  let  all  our  thoughts 
and  actions  conform  to  God's  will. 

"I  hope  something  has  been  done  for  me,  or  will  be  done 


408  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

for  me,  in  my  own  country.  So  great  an  object  as  this  before 
us  must  not  be  supported  solely  by  foreigners.  It  grieves  me 
to  think  of  the  coldness  of  our  own  people  at  home  on  subjects 
of  the  greatest  importance,  and  which  concern  themselves  more 
than  all  others. 

"  Adieu !  renew  your  prayers  for  one  who  scarcely  for  a 
moment  has  ceased  to  pray  for  you,  dear,  dear  Sophia,  and 
the  children.  Once  more  God  Almighty  grant  we  may  soon 
meet  and  be  blessed,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord !     Amen. 

"Philander  Chase." 

On  the  5th  of  July  the  writer  visited  the  venerable  cathe- 
dral at  Exeter,  after  which  he  spent  a  very  happy  day  at  Sir 
Thomas  Acland's.  Of  this  noble  Baronet  and  his  lady  the 
writer  continued  to  receive  proofs  of  unfeigned  friendship,  and 
deep  solicitude  for  the  success  of  his  cause.  It  was  Lady 
Acland  who  set  on  foot  a  subscription,  which  eventuated  in 
the  purchase  of  a  printing-press  and  types  for  the  Ohio  semi- 
nary, and  this  item  thenceforward  became  an  essential  part  of 
the  writer's  plan  to  benefit  his  diocese. 

On  the  6th  of  July  bade  adieu  to  Exeter.  Sir  Thomas 
accompanied  the  writer  in  his  post-chaise  a  long  distance, 
when,  entering  a  stage-coach,  the  road  through  Taunton  and 
Bridgewater  was  soon  measured  back  to  Bristol.  Here  many 
letters  awaited,  among  which  was  one  from  Lord  Kenyon, 
extracts  from  which  follow  :  — 

"  Gredington,  June  26,  1824. 
"My  Very  Dear  Bishop:  — 

"  Like  dear  Mr.  Marriott,  I  feel  quite  grieved  at  the  thought 
of  bidding  you  farewell,  probably  forever  in  this  world,  when 
we  next  shall  part.  In  all  such  sorrows  the  true  comfort  is, 
what  I  have  experienced  in  my  own  most  melancholy  loss,  the 
hope  of  the  faithful,  and  the  reflection  that  time  is  very  short 
compared  to  eternity.  Very  sincerely  shall  I  feel  the  like 
comfort  in  parting  with  you,  my  much-prized  friend.  And  all 
the  intercourse  I  have  had  with  you,  and  all  I  have  known 
of  your  doings,  have  but  increased  those  consolations,  and  the 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  409 

humble  endeavors  not  to  counteract,  but,  by  God's  gracious 
aid,  to  endeavor  to  forward,  His  unmerited  mercy. 

"I  shall  hope  to  meet  you  at  Manchester  on  the  10th  of 
July,  and  to  see  you  and  good  Mr.  Wiggin  at  my  venerated 
aunt's,  at  Peel  Hall,  nine  miles  from  thence.  I  will  write  to 
Mr.  Wiggin  and  desire  him  to  fix  a  day  for  that  visit,  which 
I  must  crib  out  of  your  time,  and  for  him  to  say  if  we  may 
both  stay  a  night  there  or  not.  You  will  both  be  truly  wel- 
come, I  can  promise.  I  shall  leave  my  precious  daughters  by 
the  sea-side  opposite  Liverpool,  that  I  may  have  the  comfort 
of  meeting  you,  but  anxiously  wish  they  may  see  you,  and 
receive  from  you  that  apostolic  blessing  which  few  can  value 
more  than  I  shall  for  them. 

"  My  kind  regards  to  your  excellent  host  at  Broad  Clist.  I 
hope  he  will  be  able  to  serve  you  and  your  cause,  as  every 
Marriott  of  that  blood  must  wish  to  do.  God  bless  and  pros- 
per you,  prays  your  obliged  and  affectionate  friend, 

"  Kenyon." 

In  Bristol,  on  the  7th  of  July,  the  writer  was  present  at  a 
meeting  of  about  twenty  gentlemen  and  one  lady,  accompany- 
ing her  husband,  at  the  chapter-house  of  the  cathedral  of 
Bristol.  The  Dean  presided.  Sir  Edmund  Hartopp  and  the 
JIarfords  were  there,  and  the  good  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spencer. 
Two  hundred  pounds  were  sent  from  this  meeting  to  the 
treasury  of  Ohio  in  London. 

Found  all  seats  in  common  coaches  taken,  and  was  obliged, 
with  another  gentleman,  to  hire  a  post-chaise.  Rode  all 
night ;  coachman  fell  asleep ;  pitched  back  and  broke  in  the 
glass  window ;  horses  took  fright ;  fellow-traveller  jumped 
nut;  coachman,  having  recovered  his  seat,  gave  the  reins  to  the 
writer,  and  went  back  to  find  his  other  passenger ;  soon  came 
up  and  helped  him  to  a  seat,  but,  alas!  he  had  lost  his  reason. 
It  w;is  just  at  daybreak  when  this  happened.  The  man 
growing  troublesome,  the  coachman  was  ordered  to  drive  fast. 
It  was  about  ten  miles  to  Birmingham,  and  on  arriving  at  the 
inn,  Bent  foi  a  surgeon.  The  man  was  bled  and  came  to  his 
Senses,  and  never  s;tw  a  more  grateful  person  when  told  what 
had  happened.    ( 'aution :  Don't  jump  out  of  the  coach  in  like 

35 


410  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

cases.  There  may  be  nothing  serious,  and  if  there  be,  you'll 
find  more  safety  in  the  coach  than  out  of  it.  It  will  shield 
you  in  case  there  be  an  overturn.  See  the  like  advice  by  the 
learned  Prideaux. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Burns  treated  the  Avriter  with  great  civility, 
and  he  dined  at  his  house  in  Birmingham.  Went  in  a  coach 
to  Woolverhampton,  and  thence  in  a  post-chaise  to  Stretton 
Hall,  the  residence  of  Lady  Rosse,  the  writer's  most  munifi- 
cent benefactress.  Hitherto  the  acquaintance  had  been  only 
by  letter ;  now  it  was  indeed  face  to  face.  Her  Ladyship  was 
sitting  alone  at  her  tea-table  when  the  writer  was  bidden  to 
walk  in.  Never  were  there  appearances  of  greater  surprise, 
accompanied  by  a  perfect  collectedness  of  manner,  than  in  the 
countenance  and  address  of  this  venerable  person.  Speaking 
of  this  in  a  letter  to  a  friend  afterwards,  she  said,  "I  had 
figured  to  my  mind  a  small  and  emaciated  form  in  the  person 
of  Bishop  C,  but,  instead  of  that,  a  very  large  man  darkened 
my  doors  as  he  came  first  to  meet  me." 

Commanding  a  chair,  she  bade  the  writer  sit  down  and  par- 
take of  her  favorite  beverage.  It  was  indeed  a  delicious 
repast,  especially  to  the  mind  and  intellectual  taste.  She  was 
evidently  very  far  advanced  in  years,  yet  there  was  an  expres- 
sion of  great  strength  of  thought  in  her  countenance.  This, 
joined  with  lineaments  of  benevolence,  covering,  like  the  thick 
foliage  of  a  tree,  the  golden  fruits  as  well  as  the  vigor  of  the 
moral  frame,  gave  the  beholder  great  satisfaction. 

When  endeavoring  to  execute  what  his  heart  had  long  dic- 
tated, a  commission  of  grateful  expressions  for  her  unexam- 
pled benevolence  to  the  Ohio  cause,  he  was  stopped  on  the 
threshold  of  his  speech  by  her  saying,  "  Bless  your  heart, 
Bishop  Chase,  you  have  done  me  a  greater  favor  than  I  you ! 
I  am  more  blessed  in  giving  than  you  in  receiving.  God's 
word  assures  us  of  this.  Besides,  your  cause  is  a  good  one, 
and  I  am  morally  sure  the  funds  will  not  be  misused,  and  that 
is  more  than  I  can  say  elsewhere.  I  have  not,"  she  con- 
tinued, "been  out  of  my  house,  except  to  the  house  of  God, 
since  my  good  Lord  died ;  and  when  good  Miss  Macfarlane 
wrote  me  of  your  case,  and  pointed  out  the  way  in  which  I 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  411 

might  serve  you,  my  spirit  rejoiced,  and  I  have  not  for  many 
years  enjoyed  so  happy  a  winter." 

The  whole  evening,  till  ten  o'clock,  was  spent  in  devising 
ways  in  which  she  might  still  aid  the  Ohio  cause.  When  that 
hour  came,  she  rose  and  bade  me  farewell,  saying  she  would 
not  probably  awake  early  enough  to  bid  adieu  in  the  morning. 
The  whole  house  was  directly  in  profound  silence,  till  the  ser- 
vant called  at  the  appointed  moment  for  the  coach.  As  the 
writer  came  down  with  great  caution,  lest  he  should  awake 
his  beneficent  hostess,  she  met  him  in  the  parlor  with  expres- 
sions of  continued  benediction,  and  giving  him  Bishop  Wil- 
son's Sacra  Privata  as  a  keepsake,  she  reiterated  her  adieus. 
He  need  not  say  how  precious  this  little  book  has  been  to  him 
ever  since. 

Memoranda  in  coming  from  Stone :  —  "  Trent,  a  small  river. 
Spring  Valley — beautiful  jet  d'eau,  or  water-spout.  Lunatic 
hospital,  built  by  a  private  gentleman.  Enchanting  view  of 
hills  on  the  right  beyond  the  Trent.  The  Marquis  of  Straf- 
ford's neighborhood,  in  neatness  and  comfort  of  both  house 
and  fields,  exceeded  by  none  seen  in  England.  Rode  for  the 
first  time  on  the  outside ;  views  most  pleasant. 

"  Approaching  Manchester;  at  Longside  at  eight  o'clock,  P. 
M.,  on  the  9th  of  July,  1824.  Hired  a  man  to  take  my  trunk 
across  U  Piatt  Hall,  the  residence  of  good  Mr.  W.  The  pleas- 
antness of  the  evening — the  voices  of  boys  at  play — the  mild, 
smoky  atmosphere — the  chapel  dimly  discovered — the  palpi- 
tating breast  in  fond  expectancy  of  embracing  friends,  the 
first,  and  of  the  truest  and  best  in  England;  no  words  can 
record  the  rest. 

"On  the  10th  July  Lord  Kenyon  came  to  Piatt  Hall  and 
dined.  Never  was  there  a  nobleman  more  cordially  received. 
On  the  11th,  Sunday,  attended  the  Collegiate  Church  all  day 
with  his  Lordship,  and  dined  at  Piatt  Hall." 

"JULY  12. 

"Bidding  farewell  to  this  dear  place,  and  to  Mrs.  Wiggin, 
who,  like  an  angel  of  mercy,  had  watched  «»v<r  my  welfare, 
and  by  her  prayers  of  faith  had  called  down  answers  of  bless- 
ings on  me,  we  proceeded  to  Bolton  and  thence  to  Peel  Hall, 


412  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

the  residence  of  the  aunt  of  our  noble  friend,  Lord  Kenyon. 
Nothing  could  exceed  the  cordiality  of  our  welcome  here. 
The  venerable  matron,  aged  seventy-eight,  perfect  in  her 
mental  powers,  and  able  in  her  natural  frame,  and,  above  all, 
strong  in  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  and  unbounded  in  her  char- 
ity, rejoiced  to  make  happy  the  friends  of  her  noble  relative. 
The  very  servants,  of  whom  there  were  many,  both  old  and 
young,  the  happy  tenants  of  this  ancient  domain,  seemed  to 
catch  the  flame  of  piety  from  their  mistress'  bosom,  and  at  a 
word  assembled  and  prayed  and  worshipped  God  together. 
This  singular  dwelling,  uniting  many  humble  houses  together, 
was  built  in  days  of  yore.     The  last  was  founded  in  1637." 

"JULY  14. 

"  Yesterday  Mr.  Wiggin  returned  to  Manchester. 

"  To-day  bade  adieu  to  Peel,  and  accompanied  Lord  Kenyon 
to  Liverpool.  Found  all  ready  to  receive  us  at  No.  21  Clay- 
ton square.     Mr.  Wiggin  again  joined  us." 

His  Lordship  went  across  to  Hoy  lake  for  his  daughters, 
and  while  he  is  absent  the  writer  will  recur  to  many  letters 
which  bear  a  previous  date,  concentrated  here  as  the  place  of 
departure  from  England: — These  were,  one  from  A.  Baring, 
(now  a  nobleman,)  enclosing  twenty-five  pounds;  one  from 
Lord  Gambier,  informing  the  writer  that  Lady  Olivia  Sparrow 
had  contributed  fifty  pounds. 

Other  affectionate  farewell  letters  from  Henry  Goulburn, 
Thomas  S.  B.  Reade,  Rev.  Josiah  Pratt,  John  S.  Harford, 
Rev.  John  Scott,  and  others.  The  two  last  named  are  here 
inserted :  — 

u  Blaise  Castle,  near  Bristol,  July  12,  1824. 

"My  Dear  Bishop:  — 

"We  have  often  thought  and  talked  of  you  since  your  de- 
parture, with  feelings  of  lively  regard  and  sincere  interest  in 
the  important  object  of  your  pursuit.  Yesterday  afternoon 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Gray  introduced  the  subject  of  it  into  his  sermon, 
which  he  rendered  very  interesting,  not  only  by  a  general 
detail  of  your  plan,  but  by  particular  extracts  from  your 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  413 

printed  Appeal,  as  well  as  by  a  striking  display  of  the  grounds 
upon  which  the  American  Episcopal  Church  may  fairly 
apply  to  the  sympathies  of  British  Christians  of  the  same 
communion. 

"Our  subscription  amounts  at  present  to  about  two  hundred 
and  forty  pounds.  Mrs.  Harford  has  more  than  collected  the 
twenty  guineas.  Mrs.  Burgess,  the  Lady  of  the  Bishop  of  St. 
David's,  has  sent  her  a  message  to  add  her  name  to  the  list. 
We  are  taking  means  to  promote  the  subscription  in  Bristol, 
by  means  of  a  printed  circular,  with  a  list  of  subscribers,  and  a 
short  but  forcible  appeal  annexed  to  it. 

"  It  rejoices  me  to  think  that  you  will  carry  away  with  you 
a  pleasant  impression  of  the  land  of  your  fathers.  I  trust  that 
an  intercourse  of  affection,  and  promotive  of  objects  of  Chris- 
tian utility,  will  be  every  year  augmented  between  England 
and  America.  May  the  blessing  of  the  Great  Head  of  the 
Church  ever  attend  your  labors,  and  render  you  the  honored 
instrument  of  erecting,  as  you  desire,  a  spiritual  oasis  in  the 
desert,  whence  faithful  ministers  and  missionaries  of  Christ 
shall  go  forth  to  enlighten  and  to  edify  the  western  world. 

"I  presume  you  have  already  written  to  Lady  William 
Somerset.  Her  direction  is  Frenchay,  near  Bristol.  I  desired 
several  newspapers,  containing  our  Bristol  list  of  subscriptions, 
to  be  forwarded  to  you  by  Saturday's  post. 

"Mrs.  Harford  unites  with  me  in  cordial  regards  and  best 
wishes  to  you.  Let  us  pray  for  each  other,  and  hope  to  meet 
again  in  a  better  world ;  and  while  we  remain  in  this,  may 
we  be  enabled  to  abound  in  the  work  of  the  Lord.  I  shall 
be  glad  to  hear  from  you  as  you  promised.  I  am,  my  dear 
Bishop,  your  affectionate  friend  and  servant, 

"John  S.  Harford." 

"Hull,  Jidy  13,  1824. 
"  Rt.  Rev.  and  Very  Dear  Sir  :  — 

"  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you  for  the  two  kind  letters 
with  which  you  have  favored  me.  In  the  former  I  was  sorry 
to  find  that  what  we  had  done  here  in  your  good  cause  had 
been  overstated  to  you.  However,  we  had  done  perhaps 
*  what,'  under  existing  circumstances,  '  we  could,'  and  we  are 

35* 


414  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

much  gratified  at  your  kind  acceptance  of'  it,  and  at  your 
retaining  so  affectionate  a  remembrance  of  your  friends  in 
Hull.  I  have  communicated  the  contents  of  your  last  letter  to 
such  of  their  number  as  I  could,  and  they  all  desire  most 
respectful  and  affectionate  regards  to  you,  and  express  their 
earnest  wishes  and  prayers  for  your  safe  and  prosperous 
voyage,  for  your  success  in  all  your  labors  for  the  honor  of 
our  Great  Master,  and  the  good  especially  of  that  part  of  his 
flock  over  which  he  has  made  you  overseer. 

"We  feel  some  surprise,  and  even  a  little  disappointment,  at 
your  leaving  this  country  so  soon ;  but  the  reasons  you  assign 
for  it  appear  quite  sufficient  We  regret  the  opposition,  and 
the  painful  feelings  connected  with  it,  which  you  have  en- 
countered here ;  but  you  will  know  how  to  consider  even  this 
as  a  token  for  good.  No  great  and  good  work  but  what  meets 
with  opposition  in  this  world.  Nothing  here  that  succeeds 
greatly  and  extensively  in  the  end,  but  what  meets  with 
painful  discouragements  in  the  progress. 

"I  have  mentioned  your  request  to  Mr.  Dikes  and  Mr. 
King.  They  desire  their  respects  and  love  to  you.  We  all 
purpose  to  comply  with  your  wishes  publicly  next  Sunday. 
We  apprehend,  indeed,  that  you  refer  to  a  'collect'  which  we 
have  not  in  our  Common  Prayer  Book ;  but  we  intend  to 
mention  your  request  at  the  commencement  of  the  Litany, 
and  then  to  refer  particularly  to  you  among  those  who  '  travel 
by  land  or  by  water.'  I  hope  we  shall  often  remember  one 
another  elsewhere,  more  privately ;  indeed,  that  we  shall  have 
1  good  remembrance  of  one  another  always.' 

"  Our  prayer  will  be  for  you,  that  you  may  have  a  safe  and 
prosperous  voyage  and  journey,  by  the  will  of  God,  to  join 
your  Church  and  family  again  in  peace ;  and  though  your 
meeting  must  be  with  some  tears  of  sorrow  for  the  bereave- 
ment that  you  have  suffered  since  you  parted  with  them,  yet 
that  even  these  may  be  mingled  with  tears  of  joy,  both  for 
yourselves  and  for  him  who  is  so  much  earlier  removed  to  a 
better  world; — that  you  may  return  to  your  family  and  your 
diocese  '  in  the  fulness  of  the  blessing  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,' 
your  heart  comforted,  your  hands  strengthened,  your  whole 
soul  animated  in  the  work  of  the  Lord; — that  you  may  be 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  415 

the  honored  and  happy  instrument  of  forming  a  long-flourish- 
ing Church  in  the  wilderness,  (as  you  yourself  describe  it,) 
and  of  founding  for  it  an  institution  whence  may  proceed 
1  pastors  after  God's  own  heart,  to  feed  his  people  with  knowl- 
edge and  sound  instruction'  for  ages  yet  to  come.  May  '  the 
wilderness  and  the  solitary  place  be  glad  for  you,  and  the 
desert  rejoice  and  blossom  as  the  rose.' 

"  I  assure  you  you  have  left  a  warm  and  very  affectionate 
remembrance  of  you  here,  and  as  far  as  I  have  heard,  wherever 
you  have  gone ;  and  you  have  excited  a  feeling  of  interest  and 
of  satisfaction  respecting  the  American  Episcopal  Church 
which  exceeded  our  expectation,  for  we  knew  little  of  it  before 
your  arrival. 

"Mr.  Scott  and  myself  have  been  spending  a  little  time  at 
York,  where  we  were  talking  of  you  to  this  effect :  —  'I  wish 
we  had  got  our  school  teachers,  (fee.,  together  in  Hull,  to  give 
you  the  meeting,  and  particularly  to  receive  a  practical  illus- 
tration of  that  sort  of  use  of  the  Common  Prayer  Book,  for 
instruction  and  devotion  united,  which  you  describe.' 

"I  remain,  Rt.  Rev.  and  very  dear  sir,  with  the  greatest 
respect  and  esteem,  your  faithful,  humble  servant, 

"John  Scott." 


CHAPTER    XXXVI. 

RETURN  TO   AMERICA ARRIVAL  IN   NEW  YORK MEETS    HIS    FAMILY 

AT  KINGSTON JOURNEY  TO  OHIO ARRIVES  AT  WORTHINGTON — ■ 

CONVENTION    AT  CHILLICOTHE. 

Lord  Kenyon  came  over  to  the  city  early  in  the  day  of  the 
15th  of  July,  with  his  son  and  three  dand iters.  The  object 
was  a  farewell  interview,  accompanied  with  prayer  and  ben- 
ediction. Of  the  accomplishment  of  this  it  becomes  n<>t  the 
writer  to  state.  All  he  can  say  is,  that  the  impression  on  his 
own  mind  is  very  lasting.  One  circumstance  deserves  to  be 
noticed  in  speaking  of  this  last  meeting  in  Liverpool,  which 

was  the  presence  of  good  Dr.  Dowe,  once  of  .New  <  Means,  now 

of  Cathcart,  in  Scotland,     lie  had  come  to  Bee  his  old  friend, 


416  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

and  confirmed  by  word  of  mouth  what  he  had  related  in  a 
letter  about  Mr.  Butterworth's  being  won  to  his  cause  by  the 
story  of  his  yellow  man  Jack. 

Among  other  letters  which  met  him  here  at  Liverpool,  was 
one  from  Halifax,  signed  "  A  Raven,"  alluding  to  2  Kings, 
xvii.  6.  It  contained  twenty  pounds.  Mr.  Wiggin  was  pres- 
ent at  the  opening  of  this  letter,  and  immediately  applied  the 
contents  towards  paying  the  writer's  fare  to  America.  Same 
evening  drank  tea  with  the  Liverpool  clergy,  at  the  house  of 
Mr.  Adam  Hodgson ;  a  most  affectionate  interview.  The  son 
of  the  Bishop  of  Bangor,  Mr.  Majendie,  was  present;  also 
Messrs.  Dawson  and  Buddicomb. 

The  16th  of  July  was  the  day  fixed  for  sailing  to  America, 
but  contrary  winds  prevented.  The  ship  Orbit,  Capt.  Tink- 
ham,  in  which  the  writer  came,  was  to  take  him  home. 

On  the  17th  he  was  still  detained.  Sir  Charles  Palmer,  Dr. 
Trevor,  Dean  of  Chester,  and  others,  came  to  the  ship  as  she 
was  setting  her  sails,  and  ceased  not  their  tokens  of  English 
kindness  to  the  writer  till  he  was  out  of  sight.  The  pilot-boat 
brought  his  last  farewell  to  his  numerous  friends. 

What  things  are  most  oppposite?  Answer:  The  writer's 
feelings  when  he  entered,  and  those  with  which  he  left  good 
Old  England. 

Forty-three  days  spent  on  the  ocean  in  the  months  of  July 
and  August,  are  not  the  most  interesting  parts  of  one's  life. 
God's  protecting  goodness,  and  the  kind  treatment  of  a  worthy 
captain  and  affectionate  passengers,  constituted  all  that  was 
worth  recording  during  the  voyage  from  Liverpool  to  New 
York,  where  the  writer  arrived  on  the  29th  of  August,  1824. 
His  landing-place  was  at  Whitehall  wharf,  where,  not  a  year 
before,  when  embarking  for  England,  he  had  embraced  for  the 
last  time  his  beloved  son  Philander. 

It  was  now  Sunday  night :  the  church  bells  were  ringing 
for  evening  service ;  and  never  did  he  join  with  more  fervency 
in  the  prayers  and  praises  of  the  Liturgy,  or  feel  their  adapta- 
tion and  holy  efficacy  more  deeply.  And  surely  never  had  he 
more  reason  to  rejoice  and  be  glad,  and  say,  "  Let  the  people 
praise  thee,  O  God ;  yea,  let  all  the  people  praise  thee ! "  than 
on  that  occasion. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  417 

It  was  somewhat  remarkable  that  the  want  of  information 
in  New  York,  touching  what  had  recently  transpired  in  Eng- 
land, was  such  as  to  induce  many  citizens  to  believe  that  the 
writer  had  been  without  patronage  in  that  country,  especially 
from  the  heads  of  the  nation.  This  belief  was  so  general,  that 
a  notice  written  by  some  friend,  he  knows  not  whom,  and 
published  in  Liverpool  after  he  left,  was,  on  its  arrival  in  New 
York,  regarded  as  a  fiction  ;  and  Mr.  Dwight,  who  had  repub- 
lished it  in  the  Daily  Advertiser,  was  assailed  in  the  other 
papers  for  having  uttered  things  which  were  not  correct,  and 
thus  needlessly  disturbed  the  public  mind. 

From  the  facts  detailed  in  the  foregoing  pages,  the  reader 
will  judge  if  the  public  mind  did  not  want  information  con- 
cerning what  had  passed  in  England  during  the  writer's  visit 
to  that  country.  It  is  believed  that  that  want  of  information 
still  exists  in  the  minds  of  many  estimable  persons  in  the  city 
of  New  York,  to  his  no  small  disadvantage,  and  to  the  hin- 
drance of  his  usefulness  in  promoting  the  best  interests  of  the 
primitive  Church  in  the  west  and  far  west  of  his  country. 
Our  Atlantic  cities  must  help  the  western  institutions  of  religion 
and  learning,  or  they  will  never  arrive  to  maturity.  This  is 
especially  true  in  regard  to  New  York :  for  she  is  to  the  west- 
ern states  what  the  heart  is  to  the  human  limbs: — the  blood 
must  circulate — she  must  throw  her  wealth  and  influence 
abroad,  or  there  will  soon  be  a  stagnation  of  the  genial  cur- 
rent, which  will  bring  on  moral  death.  These  reflections 
make  the  writer  deeply  regret  the  existence  of  any  prejudices 
against  him  in  that  city.  If  he  had  but  the  confidence  of  the 
Church  there,  his  missionary  work  would  be  prospered  indeed. 
But  to  return  to  the  narrative. 

The  writer  went  immediately  to  Kingston,  where  he  had 
left  his  dear  family. 

Why  is  it  that  we  arc  said  to  violate  the  rules  of  true  taste 
when  we  attempt  to  describe  domestic  joys  ?  Are  they  less 
real  than  our  sorrows?  In  weighing  them  by  contrast,  must 
we  give  all  attention  to  the  doleful  side  1  Whui  last  t lie  writer 
visited  this  lovely  place,  (Kingston,)  a  dark  cloud  hung  over 
him,  nady  to  hurst  and  destroy  his  peace.  In  remembering 
the  chapter  of  the  sweet  briars,  and  what  was  thrown  over 


418  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

them  into  the  dressing-room,  who  did  not  sympathize  ?  Con- 
trast that  scene  with  the  return  of  the  husband  and  father, 
crowned  with  complete  success,  into  the  same  house,  and 
mingling  with  hearts  now  turned  from  mourning  to  joy !  In 
mentioning  these  facts  is  true  taste  violated?  Still  further 
will  the  writer  boldly  advance  in  telling  his  causes  of  joy  and 
gladness.  He  found  another  son  added  to  his  family,  and 
soon  went  to  Hartford  and  presented  him  before  the  Lord  for 
holy  baptism,  by  the  hands  of  his  respected  brother  in  the 
Lord,  the  Bishop  of  Connecticut.  He  took  the  name  of  that 
dear  son,  of  whom  so  much  is  said  in  these  memoirs,  whom 
God  had  taken  to  himself — Philander. 

To  cross  the  mountains  with  a  family  in  1824  was  more 
trouble,  and  took  a  longer  time,  than  to  go  to  Europe  and  back 
again  in  a  steamer  at  the  present  day.  The  journey,  however, 
must  be  performed,  and  one  month  was  occupied  in  reaching 
Worthington  from  Kingston.  On  arriving  here,  the  writer 
found  his  pleasant  residence,  built  some  years  ago  by  himself, 
now  embosomed  in  trees  twenty  and  thirty  feet  high,  covered 
with  wild  grapes  purposely  left  for  a  shade  and  beauty.  These 
vines  in  two  years,  from  the  time  the  writer  left  Worthington 
for  Cincinnati  to  that  of  his  return  from  England,  had  over- 
topped the  trees  and  spread  their  branches  so  as  to  touch  in 
several  places  the  roof  of  the  house.  An  early  frost  had  given 
them  the  autumnal  tints,  and  caused  some  of  the  leaves  to  fall, 
so  as  to  discover  the  abundance  and  attractive  color  of  the 
fruit.  "  How  delicious  ! "  said  the  children.  "  Yes,"  said  the 
father;  "but  the  fruit  is  natural,  and  as  such  it  is  sour  and 
unpalatable.  Before  good  fruit  can  grow  on  these  branches 
they  must  be  changed :  they  must  be  grafted  upon.  Some 
good  scion  must  be  inserted  into  every  branch,  and  the  wild 
branches  pruned  away.  Even  so  must  it  be  with  our  wicked 
nature.  Our  hearts  must  be  changed,  and  we  must  l  receive 
with  meekness  the  ingrafted  word  which  alone  is  able  to  save 
our  souls.'  By  baptism  we  are  ingrafted  into  Christ,  the  true 
or  good  vine.  This  is  our  regeneration.  By  receiving  Christ 
by  faith,  the  hope  of  glory,  we  have  the  change  of  heart  and 
become  new  creatures.  The  one  is  to  be  in  Christ ;  the  other 
is  to  have  Christ  in  us.     Our  covenant  relation  to  Christ,  in 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  419 

the  former  figure,  is  a  great  privilege :  to  enjoy  the  indwelling 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  as  by  the  latter,  is  a  still  greater.  c  He  is 
not  a  Jew  who  is  one  outwardly,  but  he  is  a  Jew  who  is  one 
inwardly,  and  circumcision  is  that  of  the  heart  and  of  the 
spirit,  whose  praise  is  not  of  men  but  of  God.'  " 

On  the  14th  of  October,  while  at  Worthington,  the  writer 
addressed  a  letter  to  the  Hon.  Henry  Clay,  from  which  the 
following  is  an  extract :  — 

"  Worthington,  Ohio,  Oct.  14,  1824. 
"  Very  Dear  Sir  :  — 

"  I  have  delayed,  I  fear,  far  beyond  the  proper  period,  for- 
warding to  you  the  enclosed  letter  from  Lord  Gambier.  My 
apology  is,  the  very  sincere  wish  I  have  indulged  of  a  personal 
interview  on  the  subject  of  which  I  presumed  the  letter  treated, 
namely,  his  Lordship's  very  great  regard  for  you,  and  the 
essential  service  of  which  your  letter  to  his  Lordship  proved 
to  me. 

"  I  wished  also  to  see  you,  perhaps  at  the  United  States 
court  in  Columbus,  that  I  might  assign  the  reasons  and  obtain 
your  pardon  for  using  your  name  as  the  umpire  in  a  certain 
deed  of  donation  of  my  estate,  where  I  now  am,  to  the  con- 
templated theological  seminary  for  the  education  of  young 
men  for  the  Christian  ministry.  As  it  is,  I  can  only  send  you 
a  copy  of  that  instrument,  and  to  it  beg  your  favorable  atten- 
tion. 

"  The  meeting  of  our  convention  takes  place  in  Chillicothe 
on  the  3d  of  November  next.  I  need  not  say  how  much 
pleasure  the  seeing  of  you  there  would  afford  to 

"  Your  faithful  and  sincere  friend  and  servant, 

"  P.  Chase." 

On  the  3d  of  November,  1824,  the  convention  of  the  diocese 
of  Ohio,  consisting  of  the  Bishop,  four  presbyters,  and  twenty- 
three  lay  delegates,  met  at  Chillicothe,  a  town  nearly  m  the 
centre  of  the  state.  The  Bishop's  address  was  principally 
recitative  of  events  already  recorded  in  this  memoir.  It  stated 
that  the  writer,  from  a  sense  of  duty,  had  during  the  past  year 
paid  a  visit  to  the  Parent  Church  in  England;  that  his  sole 


420  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

object  in  going  thither  was  to  obtain  funds  to  found  a  theo- 
logical seminary  in  Ohio,  in  communion  with  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  America ;  that  the  Bishop  was  to  be  at 
the  head  of  this  seminary,  and  that  its  object  was  the  educa- 
tion of  candidates  for  holy  orders  in  the  Episcopal  Church ; 
that,  in  the  execution  of  this  design,  he  had  met  with  much 
opposition,  but  had  finally  succeeded.  On  this  subject  he 
says :  — 

"  When  a  resolution  is  once  formed,  evidently  in  accordance 
with  the  word  of  God,  and  sustained  by  a  consciousness  of 
divine  direction,  it  is  no  subject  of  regret  that  the  efforts  to 
carry  it  into  execution  are  surrounded  with  difficulties.  It 
makes  us  feel  our  dependence  to  be  on  God  alone ;  and  when 
crowned  with  success,  it  makes  the  glory  more  conspicuously 
His. 

"  With  this  dependence  on  God  was  the  mission  to  Old  Eng- 
land undertaken,  and  most  signally  has  a  trust  in  Him  been 
crowned  with  success.  That  great  and  generous  people,  the 
members  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  England,  who  are  spread- 
ing the  gospel  throughout  the  world,  received  your  Bishop 
with  kindness,  heard  his  story  of  your  wants  with  compassion, 
investigated  his  plans  with  candor,  examined  all  objections, 
and  finally  determining  in  his  favor,  munificently  contributed 
to  your  relief. 

"  My  powers,"  said  the  Bishop,  "  are  not  equal  to  an  enu- 
meration of  all  the  kindnesses  shown  me,  nor  to  give  a  full 
estimate  of  the  fellowship  which  in  the  bonds  of  our  common 
Church  accompanied  their  rich  gifts  to  our  infant  Western 
Zion.  Yery  pleasant,  however,  is  the  recollection  thereof. 
Their  memory  is  embalmed  in  my  heart,  and  no  delight  is 
greater  than  the  duty  thus  publicly  and  officially  to  acknowl- 
edge them. 

" Never  was  benevolence  more  disinterested;  never  was 
Christian  zeal  more  active.  Delicacy,  as  well  as  generosity, 
characterized  our  benefactors.  The  task  of  soliciting  being 
assumed  by  the  most  respectable  characters,  the  rich  feasts  of 
intellectual  intercourse  and  Christian  courteousness  were  every- 
where spread  before  your  Bishop,  and  he  has  reason  to  bless 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  421 

God  for  giving  him  grace  in  the  eyes  of  this  favored  people, 
whose  God  is  the  Lord,  and  whose  kindness  to  him  was  evi- 
dently the  fruit  of  the  gospel  of  peace." 

The  address  then  spoke  of  the  large  set  of  communion  plate, 
the  avails  of  a  donation  left  as  a  legacy  to  the  writer  by  John 
Bowdler,  Esq.,  and  given  by  Miss  Duff  Macfarlane  to  him,  viz., 
a  flagon,  two  chalices,  two  patens,  and  collection  plate.  On  it 
was  this  inscription :  "  Appropriated  to  the  use  of  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Philander  Chase,  D.  D.,  Bp.  of  Ohio,  and  by  the  Bishop's 
desire  dedicated  forever  to  the  service  of  this  chapel,  A.  D. 
1824."  He  then  proceeds  to  state  the  sum  already  collected 
in  money  (besides  the  stereotype  Prayer  Book  and  the  Acland 
press)  to  be  about  twenty  thousand  dollars,  which  sum  was 
much  increased  afterwards.  After  referring  to  the  deed  of 
donation  of  the  27th  November,  1823,  the  address  proceeded:  — 

"  By  that  instrument  it  may  be  seen  how  foreign  from  my 
mind  it  is,  and  ever  has  been,  to  create  any  division  in  our 
Church  by  making  our  Ohio  institution  in  any  way  indepen- 
dent of  the  constitutional  and  canonical  authorities.  To  the 
superintending  control  of  the  General  Convention  and  House 
of  Bishops,  all  our  institutions  of  this  nature  ought  to  be  sub- 
ject. In  case  there  is  a  departure  from  our  landmarks,  —  the 
Articles  and  the  Liturgy  of  our  primitive  Church,  —  a  control- 
ling power  should  be  acknowledged  in  those  to  whom  God 
hath  committed  it." 

The  address  closed  with  the  following  devout  prayer  for  a 
blessing:  — 

11  That  God  may  have  this  council  of  his  Church,  here 
assembled,  in  his  holy  keeping;  that  he  may  graciously  for- 
give us  our  sins,  and  direct  us  in  all  our  ways,  and  further  us 
with  his  continual  help,  so  that  in  all  our  works,  begun,  con- 
tinued, and  ended  in  Him,  we  may  glorify  his  holy  name,  and 
finally  by  his  mercy,  through  Jesus  Christ,  obtain  everlasting 
life,  is  the  prayer  of  your  affectionate  pastor." 

36 


422  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

Throughout  the  whole  of  the  above  address  there  was  a 
designed  suppression  of  everything  which  tended  to  strife, 
although  by  so  doing  his  reputation  he  knew  greatly  suffered 
in  the  eyes  of  many  thousands,  who  were  unacquainted  with 
the  facts  while  the  writer  was  in  England  and  since  he  had 
left  it.  Peace,  with  a  wounded  reputation,  is  better  than  per- 
fect vindication  obtained  by  contention.  This  he  owns  was  a 
hard  task,  for  the  attack  had  been  renewed  in  England,  of 
which  he  had  frequent  intelligence  by  letter. 

The  following,  from  that  noble  and  best  of  friends,  whom 
he  has  so  often  mentioned  in  this  memoir,  will  suffice  to 
explain  this:  — 

"  Hoy  Lake,  August  9,  1824. 
"My  Very  Dear  Bishop:  — 

"If  I  were  to  follow  the  disposition  of  my  mind,  no  week 
would  pass  without  my  writing  to  you.  Most  cordially  do  we 
all  trust  you  are  proceeding  well  on  your  voyage  of  devotion, 
and  that  it  may  please  God  to  bless  all  your  undertakings ; 
for  I  am  persuaded  all  will  be  directed  to  his  glory  and  to  the 
edification  and  unity  of  Christ's  Church. 

"  My  good  aunt  is  still  with  us,  and  has  expressed  her  wish 
to  good  Mrs.  Marriott  to  be  on  her  list  for  the  printing  press. 
You  have  heard  that  our  two  Archbishops  have  given  their 
names,  though  only  for  twenty-five  pounds  each.  *  *  * 
You  heard  that  the  Bishop  of  Bangor  has  given  his  name, 
in  reply  to  my  application,  very  handsomely  regretting  that 
demands  on  him  for  his  cathedral,  his  family,  &c.,  would  not 
allow  him  to  feel  justified  in  giving  more  than  twenty-five 
pounds.  The  warden  and  fellows  of  New  College,  Oxford, 
have  given  twenty-six  pounds  five  shillings,  in  addition  to 
what  the  warden  had  given  before.  And  I  rejoice  to  find  that 
my  Alma  Mater,  Oxford,  has  more  than  doubled  her  pious 
offerings,  as  they  amounted  when  I  last  heard  to  four  hundred 
and  thirty-six  pounds,  instead  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-five 
pounds.  c  The  Welshman,'  [his  Lordship's  son,]  of  Christ 
Church,  five  pounds,  should  be  added. 

"  My  good  friend,  Bishop  Law,  now  of  Baih  and  Wells, 
continues  ardent  in  the  good  cause,  and  I  trust  will  be  the 


bishop   chase's  reminiscences.  423 

means  of  obtaining  further  aid  and  sanction  towards  it.  I 
still  anticipate  Lord  Liverpool's  name  will  be  added,  as  Lord 
Bexley  has  applied  and  has  promised  to  apply  again  to  him. 

"  From  our  dear  friend  W.  I  heard  yesterday.  I  sent  him 
word  of  the  gratification  I  had  experienced  on  the  preceding 
Sunday  in  attending  to  the  altar  my  four  eldest  precious  chil- 
dren, and  that  I  should  rejoice  to  hear  that  he  had  attended 
his  excellent  wife  and  children  thither.  In  reply  he  said  :  c  I 
cannot  contemplate  a  more  interesting  sight  than  that  of  a 
father  taking  his  dear  offspring  to  the  altar,  to  receive  the  holy 
sacrament,  and  I  hope  I  shall  be  able  ere  long  to  tell  you  that 
I  also  have  done  my  duty.  This  holy  ordinance  has  not  been 
administered  at  our  church  since  you  was  here.  Perhaps  I 
am  too  scrupulous  in  doubting  my  fitness  for  receiving  such 
comforts ;  but  the  good  example  of  your  Lordship  ought  not 
to  be  forgotten,  and  I  assure  you  the  subject  has  had  my  most 
serious  consideration.  Your  kindness  on  all  occasions  entitles 
you  to  my  warmest  thanks.' 

"  There  is  just  come  forth  a  paper  of  sixteen  pages,  pretend- 
ing to  be  a  reply  to  the  letter  addressed  to  me,  called  '  Re- 
marks.'    It  is  attributed  to  ,  and  I  think  gives  internal 

proof  of  being  his.  Our  friend  G.  W.  Marriott  is  as  angry  at 
it  I  think  as  I  am,  and  more  so  he  can't  well  be.  It  is  dated 
the  30th  of  July ;  but  I  understand  that,  though  he  did  not 
communicate  his  return  till  the  16th  or  17th,  he  had  been  act- 
ually returned  a  fortnight  before  to  England. 

"  After  the  peace  established  between  you,  in  the  publica- 
tion put  forth  with  his  concurrence,  as  expressly  declared,  in 
April  last,  to  see  in  these  remarks  personal  attacks  made 
against  you,  strikes  my  mind  with  horror.  I  love  you  and 
your  cause,  because  I  consider  you  and  it  to  be  founded  in 
Christian  charity  and  truth,  and  there  is  not  one  word  in  the 
'Remarks'  which  shakes  my  assurance.  There  is  much  of 
art  I  think  in  the  composition.  *  *  *  There  seem  to  be 
insinuations  so  glaring,  that  the  disclaimer  of  such  intention  is 

even  worse  than  the  positive  charge  would  be. 

"Still  I  am  persuaded  that  peace  will  continue  to  be  your 

object.  [  have  all  along  considered  you  to  be  persecuted  for 
righteousness'  sake,  and  I  doubt  not  that  great  will  be  your 


424  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

reward.  On  two  points  I  rest  as  containing  the  merits  of  the 
case.  Your  clergy  must  be  '  sons  of  the  soil,'  because  none 
other  will  thrive  there ;  and  the  American  bench  of  Bishops 
must  have  due  assurance,  which  you  have  volunteered  to  give 
them,  that  the  instruction  given  in  your  seminary  will  be 
sound  in  principle  and  satisfactory  in  extent  as  to  learning. 
They,  however,  who  require  great  things  in  the  latter  respect, 
are  the  more  to  blame  in  proportion  to  the  impediments  they 
interpose  to  prevent  your  having  the  power  of  making  them 

such. 

"  I  have  had  the  satisfaction,  within  the  last  week,  of  mak- 
ing my  subscription  one  hundred  pomids  from  fifty  pounds, 
and  shall  be  ready  and  desirous,  according  to  my  power  and 
other  pressing  demands  on  me,  to  do  as  much  more  as  I  can 
for  a  cause  in  which  my  own  heart  and  those  of  my  precious 
children  are  deeply  engaged.  So  is  that  of  my  excellent  aunt, 
who  returns  to  Peel  Hall  to-morrow,  having  kindly  been  here 
for  a  fortnight.  She  and  all  my  precious  children  unite  in 
respectful  and  affectionate  remembrances,  and  believe  me,  my 
very  dear  Bishop,  your  own  faithful,  grateful  and  affectionate 
friend,  Kenyon. 

"P.  S.  I  had  yesterday  a  letter  from  good  Bishop  Jolly, 
who  sincerely  wishes  you  well.  To-day  has  brought  kind 
expressions  from  Bishop  Skinner,  and  twenty  pounds  from 
Earl  Harrowby." 

The  answer  to  the  foregoing  letter  was  delayed  till  another 
was  received,  when  a  reply  to  both  was  given,  (as  will  be  seen 
a  few  pages  hence,)  on  the  14th  day  of  December,  the  writer's 
birth-day. 

The  original  letter  of  Lord  Kenyon,  from  which  the  above 
are  faithful  extracts,  is  deserving  of  perpetual  record,  in  that 
it  affords  evidence  of  the  true  intent  of  the  donors,  of  whom  he 
was  an  acknowledged  representative,  in  founding  the  contem- 
plated Ohio  theological  seminary.  And  should  there  be,  at 
any  future  period,  a  departure  from  the  principles  therein  ex- 
pressed, this  letter  might  be  appealed  to,  as  one  among  many 
others,  as  good  evidence  of  the  truth. 

For  example,  should  the  Ohio  seminary,  following  in  the 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  425 

path  of  a  very  well-endowed  college  in  our  country,  fall  into 
heresy,  by  denying  the  great  doctrines  of  the  Trinity,  the 
divinity  of  Christ  and  the  atonement,  and  be  confirmed  in  their 
possession,  while  in  their  heresy,  by  the  civil  power,  what 
means  could  be  used  for  ejecting  the  heretics  and  recovering 
the  property  to  its  rightful  use,  better  than  the  evidence  of  his 
Lordship's  letter  that  the  original  donors  intended  it  for  the  use 
of  those  who  held  the  doctrine  and  discipline  of  the  house  of 
Bishops  and  the  general  convention  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal Church  ?  If  there  be  justice,  and  if  there  be  regard  to  the 
common  law  of  the  land,  the  courts  would  decide  that  the 
property  belongs  to  those  to  whom  the  donors  bequeathed  it. 
This  also  confirms  the  previous  principle. 

The  next  day,  viz.,  on  Thursday,  the  4th  of  November,  the 
following  resolutions  were  passed :  — 

"  Resolved,  That  this  convention  approve  the  resolution  of 
the  Bishop  to  visit  England,  to  solicit  pecuniary  aid  towards 
establishing  a  seminary  for  the  education  of  ministers  in  the 
Church. 

"  Resolved,  That  this  convention  approve  the  conduct  of 
the  Bishop,  both  in  this  country  and  England,  in  regard  to  the 
objections  urged  against  his  mission. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  convention  do  most  cordially  unite 
with  the  Bishop  in  the  sentiments  of  gratitude  and  respect 
which  he  has  expressed  for  his  reception  and  treatment  in 
England,  and  for  the  liberal  donations  that  have  been  made 
towards  the  foundation  of  a  theological  seminary  in  our  dio- 
cese." 

These  resolutions  the  writer  regarded,  and  still  regards,  of 
immense  importance,  not  as  they  were  complimentary  of  his 
conduct,  but  as  they  formed  the  foundation  on  which  the  sem- 
inary  should  stand,  and  manifested  and  fixed  its  nature  for- 
ever. It  was  to  be  a  theological  seminary,  under  the  direction 
of  the  Bishop  for  the  time  being,  and  in  all  respects  conform- 
ing to  tin-  canons  and  constitution  and  liturgy  of  the  Protes- 
tant Episcopal  Church  of  the  United  States  of  America;  for 
such  had  been  the  express  condition  on  which  the  donations 

36* 


426  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

were  made.  Their  c:  approving  and  receiving,"  therefore, 
bound  them  to  the  conditions  by  common  law,  as  in  the 
nature  of  all  contracts.  The  donor  and  donee  are  parties,  and 
a  covenant  is  formed  between  them,  if  there  be  conditions 
annexed,  by  barely  "giving  and  receiving."  This  is  estab- 
lished, although  a  word  be  not  said  by  the  donee.  The  latter 
may  promise  or  not  promise ;  and  after  he  has  received,  ex- 
plains or  not  explains ;  yet  there  is  no  alteration  in  the  nature 
of  the  conditional  contract. 

Thus,  in  this  case,  no  subsequent  act  of  the  convention  of 
Ohio,  either  by  constitution,  or  by-law  by  legislative  enact- 
ment, or  statute  law  of  the  corporation  formed  by  the  legisla- 
ture, would  alter  the  nature  of  the  primary  contract  between 
the  donor  and  the  donee.  If  the  conditions  of  the  donors  did 
not  suit,  the  only  way  of  avoiding  their  obligations  would 
have  been,  to  refuse  the  donation.  But  when  the  donation  is 
voluntarily  received,  the  obligation  to  observe  the  conditions 
is  binding,  and  remains  till  the  donation  is  given  back  with 
usury. 

The  report  of  the  committee  on  the  theological  seminary 
about  to  be  established  in  Ohio  falls  in  with  this  doctrine  of 
common  law,  and  shows  that  the  lawyer  who  drew  it  up  had 
in  view  a  previous  obligation,  created  by  the  acceptance  of  the 
donations  from  England.     It  is  as  follows  :  — 

"  The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  so  much  of  the 
Bishop's  address  as  relates  to  the  theological  seminary,  report, 
that  they  have  examined  the  deed  of  donation  of  his  estate, 
executed  by  the  Bishop  on  the  27th  of  November,  1823, 
in  England,  and  the  outline  of  the  plan  of  the  seminary, 
stated  in  the  printed  letter  from  Bishop  Chase  to  Bishop 
White,  referred  to  in  the  deed.  From  these  it  appears,  that, 
before  the  funds  subscribed  in  England  can  be  received,  a  con- 
stitution must  be  formed,  and  an  act  of  incorporation  obtained, 
upon  principles  specified  in  the  deed.  The  committee  here- 
with report  a  constitution  in  conformity,  as  they  conceive,  with 
the  provisions  of  the  deed ;  and  they  recommend  that  a  com- 
mittee, to  consist  of  two  members  of  the  Church,  be  appointed 
to  procure  the  passage  of  an  act  of  incorporation. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  427 

"  The  deed  requires  that  the  seminary  be  established  on  the 
estate  conveyed  by  the  Bishop,  unless  an  estate  of  equal  value 
be  given  at  some  other  place,  which  the  convention  may  deem 
more  eligible ;  and  whether  the  estate  be  of  equal  value  is  to 
be  decided  by  the  Hon.  Henry  Clay,  of  Kentucky. 

"According  to  the  plans  which  form  the  basis  and  founda- 
tion of  all  the  donations  made,  the  Bishop  of  the  diocese  is  to 
reside  at  the  seminary,  and  to  have  the  charge  and  direction 
of  it  as  one  of  its  principal  professors  and  president,  and  as 
such,  is  to  receive  a  proper  compensation  out  of  the  funds  con- 
tributed. The  committee  conceive  that  the  essential  interests 
of  the  seminary,  as  well  as  the  obligations  of  good  faith, 
require  that  this  part  of  the  plan  be  strictly  adhered  to,  so  that 
the  seat  of  the  seminary  is  closely  connected  with  the  proper 
point  for  the  Bishop's  residence.  This  connection  ought  to  be 
recollected  in  all  our  deliberations  on  this  subject. 

14  According  to  the  Bishop's  deed,  upon  which  all  donations 
are  predicated,  the  real  estate  proposed  to  be  given,  and  the 
appendages  to  it,  will  revert  to  the  present  proprietor,  in  the 
event  of  establishing  the  seminary  in  any  other  place.  But 
notwithstanding  such  reversion,  it  will  become  the  duty  of  the 
Bishop  to  reside  personally  at  the  seminary.  These  fads,  as 
resulting  from  an  examination  of  the  deed,  are  stated  for  the 
information  of  the  convention. 

11  The  committee  have  considered  that  the  fixing  of  the  sem- 
inary is  a  matter  with  which  they  have  nothing  more  to  do 
than  to  state  the  principles  upon  which  it  must  be  effected." 

Thus  it  was  plainly  declared  that  there  were  previous  prin- 
ciples which  no  subsequent  act  could  rightfully  alter,  and  from 
which  none  could  lawfully  depart,  without  giving  up  and 
relinquishing  all  claims  to  the  donations. 

The  convention  adopted  a  constitution  to  carry  into  effect 
the  first  principles  of  the  donors  in  the  establishment  of  the 
seminary,  but  did  not  fix.  the  place  wIhtc  it  should  be  located) 
thus  aroiding  for  tin*  present  a  subjed   on  which   there  w 
great  diversity  of  opinion,  and   peacefully  adjourned,  to  meet 

again  on  the  day  fixed  by  canon,  the  following  June,  at 
Zanesville. 


428  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 


CHAPTER    XXXVII. 

REPLIES  TO  FRIENDS  IN  ENGLAND ADDITIONAL  LETTERS  FROM 

THEM. 

On  the  writer's  return  from  the  convention,  he  found  time 
to  reply  to  many  of  the  letters  received  from  his  friends  in 
England,  some  of  which  replies  follow :  — 

"Worthington,  Ohio,  Dec.  23,  1824. 

"  My  Very  Dear  Lord  Bishop  of  St.  David's  :  — 

"  I  never  reflect  on  my  visit  to  Old  England  but  with  grati- 
tude to  God  and  good- will  towards  men.  What  I  heard  there 
instructed  me;  what  I  suffered  there,  I  trust,  has  made  me 
better.  God  was  gracious  unto  me,  and  gave  me  favor  in  the 
sight  of  those  whom,  by  every  book,  precept  and  line  in  my 
education,  I  had  been  taught  to  admire  and  love,  the  sound 
and  pious  of  the  Church  of  England.  Among  the  most  excel- 
lent of  such,  I  must  ever,  with  great  veneration,  rank  your 
Lordship ;  and  if  this  is  not  said  in  so  courtly  a  manner  as 
might  be,  I  entreat  that  its  sincerity  may  plead  its  apology 
and  make  amends  for  its  roughness. 

"  I  remember  every  instance  of  your  Lordship's  goodness  to 
me  with  great  delight.  It  was  in  your  Lordship's  eyes  I  first 
read  that  there  was  favor  amongst  the  British  prelates  for  Ohio ; 
it  was  your  Lordship  who  introduced  me  to  the  father  of 
the  English  bench  of  Bishops ;  and  it  was  your  Lordship  who 
so  solemnly  and  in  such  plenary  terms  blessed  me,  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord,  at  Blaise  Castle.  God  hath  indeed  blessed  me, 
according  to  that  prayer,  ever  since  your  mild  eye  beamed 
on  me.  The  Hand  of  Mercy  restrained  the  dangers  of  the 
sea  and  the  violence  of  enemies. 

"I  found  my  family  in  health,  and  with  them  in  safety 
passed  the  high  mountains  to  this  my  abode  in  Ohio."  [The 
letter  then  recites  the  events,  in  substance  as  related,  respecting 
the  seminary  and  convention.]  "  But  that  which  seemed  to 
comfort  all  hearts  was  the  spirit  of  peace  in  which  our  affairs 
from  the  beginning  had  been  conducted.     This   sanctified 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  429 

every  gift  from  our  parent  Church,  and  cast  a  holy  radiance 
over  everything  in  prospect.  And  though  we  were  not,  and 
are  not,  unapprized  of  what  has  been  done  and  still  is  doing  to 
disturb  this  peaceful  course  in  both  countries,  yet  confident 
we  were,  and  still  are,  that,  by  following  the  example  of  Him 
who,  when  he  was  reviled,  reviled  not  again,  God  will  give  us 
the  victory  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 

"  Several  places  offering  very  liberally  to  contribute  in  lands 
and  buildings,  provided  the  contemplated  seminary  can  be 
placed  in  their  vicinity,  the  convention  have  appointed  a 
committee  to  receive  all  proposals  of  that  nature,  and  report 
at  the  next  June  convention,  when  the  question  as  to  where 
the  seminary  will  be  established  will  be  finally  determined. 

"  In  the  mean  time  the  act  of  incorporation  is  to  be  obtained 
of  the  civil  legislature,  and  I  am  to  do  what  I  can  to  get 
together  a  few  students  with  whom  to  commence  with  some 
promise.  One  teacher  is  already  with  me,  and  a  few,  say 
from  eight  to  ten,  scholars,  will  constitute  our  incipient  school. 
Another  teacher  will  be  with  me  in  June,  and  we  humbly 
hope  to  succeed ;  but  it  must  be  a  work  of  great  labor,  and 
time,  and  patience. 

"On  this  and  all  our  efforts  designed  for  the  glory  of  God, 

I  am  confident  of  your  Lordship's  prayers.  None  are  more 
sincere  than  mine  for  your  Lordship's  happiness. 

"Most  faithfully,  I  am  your  Lordship's  humble  friend  and 
servant,  P.  Chase." 

The  writer's  answer  to  Lord  Kenyon's  letter  of  the  9th  of 
August :  — 

"Worthington,  Ohio,  Dec.  14,  1824.      ) 
(My  birth-day — forty-nine  years  of  age.)  S 

II  My  Very  Dear  Lord  Kenyon  :  — 

"I  wish  I  could  put  on  paper  if  it  were  no  more  than  an 
imperfect  resemblance  of  what  passes  in  my  own  breast  this 
day  and  at  this  moment  That  your  Lordship  may  conjec- 
ture, I  will  relate  what  I  think  to  be  the  causes  of  my  grate- 
ful and  pleasing  sensations.  I  am  in  very  good  health,  as 
also  are  all   my  loved  family.      I  am  with  them  in  my  quiet 

home,  -with  food  convenient  for  us.'     .My  children  play  about 


430  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

my  knees,  and  Mary  in  particular  often  contests  the  point 
with  her  elder  brother,  —  and  both  their  ages  do  net  exceed 
seven  or  eight  years,  —  who  shall  accompany  me  when  next  I 
go  to  Old  England.         *         *         * 

"  But  my  greatest  source  of  happiness  is  the  consciousness 
that  God  is  blessing  me,  however  unworthy,  in  all  my  works, 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  One  great  instance  of  this 
heavenly  favor  I  acknowledge  in  what  has  been  done  for  me 
in  England,  and  in  the  many  streams  of  delight  which  flowed 
and  still  flow  from  that  one  fountain.  As  an  item  of  this,  my 
heart  swells  with  delight  while  I  mention  the  reception  of 
your  Lordship's  favors  of  the  9th  of  August  and  the  16th  of 
September,  with  the  precious  enclosure.  The  number  of 
times  that  I  have  read  them  over  I  cannot  tell,  but  never  have 
done  so  without  thanking  God  that  I  became  acquainted  with 
you  and  your  daughter  Margaret,  'precious'  in  the  eyes  of  a 
friend  as  in  those  of  her  noble  father.  O,  may  her  eternal 
happiness  be  ever  so  in  the  eyes  of  our  Heavenly  Father ! 
That  excellent  lady,  the  good  aunt  at  Peel  Hall,  how  vividly 
does  my  remembrance  bring  back  what  passed  at  that  peace- 
ful spot ! 

"  In  my  name,  have  the  goodness,  my  Lord,  to  thank  their 
graces  of  Canterbury  and  York  for  adding  their  names  to  the 
Ohio  list  of  subscribers.  When  they  see  the  constitution  of 
our  theological  seminary,  particularly  the  sixth,  seventh,  and 
eighth  articles,  I  am  confident  of  their  approbation.  Such  is 
the  goodness  of  our  cause,  the  plainness  of  its  reasons,  and  the 
integrity  with  which  it  has  been  and  is  pursued,  that,  under 
God,  we  fear  no  harm.  We  pity  our  antagonists,  and  mean 
to  answer  them  only  by  our  silence  and  our  devout  prayers  to 
God  that  they  may  be  forgiven.  They  may  call  this  'affecta- 
tion,' but  they  are  mistaken. 

"  The  Bishop  of  Bangor's  goodness,  and  that  of  Bath  and 
Wells,  affect  me  exceedingly ;  the  latter,  by  his  frank  and  gen- 
erous manner,  when  your  Lordship  did  me  the  honor  of 
presenting  me  to  him,  preengaged  my  whole  heart,  and  may 
God  reward  him.  Your  Alma  Mater,  Oxford,  has  done  she 
knows  not  what  good.  Tell  her  to  look  forward  into  future 
days,  and  see  our  children  rising  up  and  calling  her  blessed. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  431 

Lord  Bexley,  and  his  good  sister,  Miss  Yan  S ,  conferred. 

on  me,  when  in  London,  so  many  favors,  that  the  kind  men- 
tion of  their  names  by  your  Lordship  makes  me  love  you,  if 
possible,  better  than  ever.  I  was  not  honored  with  Lord  Liv- 
erpool's acquaintance ;  but  your  Lordship  may  recollect  that 
in  the  House  of  Lords  I  heard  that  accomplished  nobleman 
advocate  the  restoration  of  the  StarTords  to  their  ancient  family 
honors.  Little  else  was  wanting  to  make  me  love  and  honor 
him. 

"  The  quotation  from  Mr.  W.'s  letter  delights  me,  and  that 
for  reasons  which  I  cannot  name  without  tears.  I  love  this 
man  and  his  family,  and  to  see  them  all  walking  in  company 
( together,'  in  the  path  of  eternal  life,  and  that  by  your  advice 
and  good  example,  makes  me  happy  indeed. 

"  I  have  now  almost  finished  answering,  after  a  most  indif- 
ferent manner,  your  Lordship's  letter  of  the  9th  of  August; 
but  when  I  notice  in  the  end  Earl  Harrowby's  subscription  of 
twenty  pounds,  and  the  doubling  of  your  Lordship's  donation, 
from  fifty  to  one  hundred  pounds,  my  grateful  feelings  break 
forth  afresh.  What  is  thus  lent  unto  the  Lord  may  He  return 
in  choicest  blessings. 

"I  wish  I  had  room  and  ability  to  answer  as  it  deserves 
your  Lordship's  favor  of  the  16th  of  September.  The  kind 
anxiety  to  see  an  answer  to  the  'Remarks,'  proceeds  doubtless 
in  your  bosom  from  a  sense  of  justice  and  benevolence :  yet 
the  weakness  of  the  cause  which  that  pamphlet  advocates 
is  so  apparent,  that  I  have  but  little  fear  from  this  assault, 
were  it  never  answered.  It  has  been  republished  in  this 
country. 

"  Be  pleased  to  thank  the  anonymous  donor  of  fifty  pounds 
in  my  name,  and  beg  him  to  reveal  his.  Our  founders  ought 
to  be  made  known  to  posterity,  and  1  ardently  desire  to  have 
his  name,  and  that  of  all  others  who  have  so  munificently 
contributed  to  bless  us,  in  everlasting  remembrance. 

"The  good  Dr. Gaskin,  G.  \V.  M.,  and  Sir  Thomas  Acland, 
whom  your  Lordship  mentions,  are  scarcely  a  moment  from 
my  mind  I  have  written  to  them  all,  and  ln-po  in  turn  to  be 
favored.  Stoke  .Vwington,  where  we  spent  that  happy 
Sunday,  will    never  be  forgotten.     How  mild  was  the  day. 


432  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

•and    how   holy  were   our   duties,    and    how  exquisite    the 

pleasure ! 

"I  am  your  Lordship's  humble  friend  and  servant, 

"Philander  Chase." 

Extract  of  a  letter  addressed  by  the  writer  to  the  Hon. 
Henry  Clay :  — 

"  Worthington,  Jan.  27,  1825. 
"  Very  Dear  Sir  :  — 

"Your  kind  letter,  in  answer  to  mine  of  the  14th  of  Octo- 
ber, dated  at  Washington,  the  14th  of  December  last,  was  duly 
received. 

"  That  you  condescend  to  become  the  umpire  in  the  matter 
alluded  to  commands  my  respect  and  grateful  consideration, 
and  I  firmly  trust  your  name  will  prove  as  serviceable  in  the 
progress  as  it  was  in  the  beginning  of  our  seminary's  pros- 
perity. My  English  correspondents  continue  to  increase  in 
number  and  zeal. 

"  The  legislature  of  Ohio  have  granted  us  a  charter.  We 
are  allowed  to  conduct  our  affairs  in  our  own  way,  and  hold 
to  the  amount  of  twenty  thousand  dollars  annual  income.  The 
Bishops  are  to  be  members  of  our  corporation,  and  have  a  vis- 
itatorial power.  What  severe  reflections  will  these  auspicious 
tidings  bring  on  all  who  reported  me  as  a  schismatical  and 
scheming  fugitive,  unsupported  by  my  own  state  and  people  ! 

"  The  place  where  our  seminary  will  be  fixed  will  not  be 
known  till  the  next  June  convention.  In  the  mean  time  I  am 
faithfully  and  gratefully  yours,  P.  Chase." 

The  following  letter  is  from  good  Lord  Gambier :  — 

uIver  Grove,  Nov.  15,  1824. 
"  My  Dear  Bishop  :  — 

"The  receipt  of  your  kind  favor  of  the  15th  September, 
notifying  your  safe  passage  across  the  Atlantic  and  your 
happy  return  to  your  family,  gave  me  very  great  pleasure. 
Most  thankful  do  I  feel  to  the  Giver  of  all  good,  that  He  has 
graciously  led  you  through  all  the  difficulties  and  dangers  that 
you  have  had  to  encounter  since  you  quitted  your  peaceful 
abode,  and  I  trust  are  now  returned  to  it  to  renew  your  zeal- 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  433 

ous  labors  in  the  vineyard  of  your  Great  Master,  to  His  glory 
and  the  salvation  of  many  souls. 

"It  affords  me  great  satisfaction  to  find  by  your  letter  that 
so  many  of  your  brother  prelates  have  so  much  approved  of 
the  course  you  have  so  wisely  and  prudently  (and  with  regard 
to  your  adversaries  so  charitably)  pursued,  in  the  pious  work 
in  which  you  are  so  faithfully  and  zealously  engaged.  And 
as  to  the  opposers  that  have  stood  up  against  you  in  this 
country,  you  may  smile  at  them  all,  seeing  that  the  Lord  has 
so  graciously  prospered  the  work  of  your  hands,  and  raised  up 
so  many  friends  in  this  country,  both  to  yourself  and  to  your 
righteous  cause. 

"  There  is  one  of  your  adversaries,  (I  will  not  name  him, 
but  you  will  readily  divine  who  I  mean,)  whose  conduct 
towards  you  does  greatly  surprise  me,  upon  which  I  will  not 
make  any  remark;  but  it  must  astonish  every  person  who 
hears  that  he  who  so  fiercely  opposed  you,  should  desire  to 
have  a  share  (I  will  not  say  for  himself,  but  for  a  similar 
cause  in  which  he  is  engaged)  in  those  contributions  that  had 
been  made  to  advance  your  pious  work. 

"I  am  happy  to  find  that  the  fund  raised  in  this  country 
for  your  intended  seminary  amounts  to  about  five  thousand 
pounds.  However  short  this  may  fall  of  our  wishes,  it  ex- 
ceeds the  most  sanguine  expectations  that  I  could  have,  when 
we  first  began  to  call  upon  our  friends  for  their  aid  towards  it. 

"It  is  very  remarkable  how  Divine  Providence  has  led  on 
your  steps  and  blessed  your  zealous  endeavors  in  this  pious 
work.  Surely  you  may  with  confidence  trust  in  your  Divine 
Master  that  he  will  carry  it  on  to  its  completion  and  perfec- 
tion. May  He  bless  this  your  work  of  faith  and  labor  of  love 
for  His  name's  sake,  and  sanctify  it  to  the  good  of  many  thou- 
sand souls  in  generations  to  come. 

"  We  shall  of  course  hear  from  you  when  the  act  of  incor- 
poration of  ili«'  college  has  passed  through  Ihe  Legislature. 

"My  esteemed  friend  Mr.  Wilberforce,  who  was  upon  a 
vimi  t<>  nir  with  his  family  about  the  time  of  your  departure 

from  tins  country,  expressed  bis  great  regret  that  you  should 

have  left  us  without  his  having  the  pleasure  of  some  friendly 

3? 


434  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

and  Christian  communication  with  you,  during  the  time  of 
your  short  stay  in  this  land. 

"  Lady  Gambier  desires  me  to  express  to  you  her  kind  and 
affectionate  regards.  We  have  now,  my  dear  Bishop,  nearly 
a  fourth  part  of  our  vast  globe  intervening  between  us ;  but 
neither  time  nor  distance  can  diminish  the  sincere  friendship 
and  Christian  love  which  I  bear  in  my  heart  for  you.  That 
our  gracious  Lord  may  prosper  your  ministry  and  the  work  of 
your  hands,  and  bless  you  and  your  family  abundantly,  is  the 
cordial  desire  and  prayer  of  your  humble  friend, 

"  Gambier." 

The  following  are  extracts  from  an  answer  to  the  fore- 
going:— 

"  Worlhington,  Ohio,  February  7,  1825. 
"  My  Very  Dear  Lord  Gambier  :  — 

"If  peace  and  good-will  be  the  fruits  of  our  holy  faith— if 
to  cement  nations  as  well  as  individuals  together  in  love  and 
friendship  be  the  design  of  our  heavenly  Christianity — may 
I  not  humbly  trust  that  my  late  visit  to  England,  abounding 
as  it  does  with  such  precious  fruits  and  such  blessed  effects, 
has  not  only  been  directed  but  approved  by  the  Source  of  all 
good?    And  when  God  approves,  what  will  avail  the  frowns 

of  men  ?     *     *     * 

"  Long  before  this  reaches  England  your  Lordship  will 
have  received  the  journals  of  our  convention.  *  *  *  It  is 
a  matter  of  unspeakable  praise  and  gratitude  to  God,  that  the 
legislature  of  our  state  so  readily  and  unanimously  confirmed 
our  constitution  by  granting  us  a  liberal  charter.  All  the 
Bishops  of  our  American  Episcopal  Church  are,  ex  officio, 
acknowledged  as  a  part  of  the  board  of  trust,  and  expressly 
authorized  to  see  that  all  things,  both  in  doctrine  and  disci- 
pline, be  conformable  to  the  liturgy  and  articles  and  canons 
of  the  Church.  It  is  true  we  do  not  put  our  seminary  under 
the  direction  of  the  General  Seminary ;  under  existing  circum- 
stances this  could  not  be  done  without  hazarding  the  peace 
of  the  Church.  What  has  been  lately  witnessed  of  an  intol- 
erant spirit,  has  greatly  prejudiced  the  minds  of  good  men 
against  such  a  measure.     We  feel  second  to  no  diocese  in  a 


bishop  chase's  reminiscences.  435 

faithful  adherence  to  the  constitution  and  canons  of  the 
Church. 

11  Your  Lordship  is  pleased  to  mention  that  good  man,  Mr. 
Wilberforce,  and  his  regret  at  his  not  having  met  me  while  in 
England.  Pray  have  the  goodness  to  name  me  in  grateful 
terms  to  that  amiable  and  distinguished  philanthropist. 

"  Your  Lordship  will  soon  hear  from  the  Hon.  Henry  Clay 
on  the  subject  of  the  '  deed  of  gift.'  " 

A  letter  from  G.  W.  Marriott,  Esq.,  to  the  writer:  — 

"Queen's  Square,  Christmas,  1824.    Evening. 
11  My  Dear  and  Venerated  Friend  :  — 

"This  day  is  ever  one,  you  will  readily  believe,  in  which 
my  heart  delights,  but  your  letter  just  received  has  made  it 
shine  with  one  more  ray  of  joy  upon  me  and  mine.  All  your 
intelligence  is  a  call  to  gratitude.  You  will  approve  of  my 
having  sent  it  without  delay  to  Mr.  Pratt,  who  proves  up  to 
this  day  his  zeal  in  the  '  unextinguishable  cause.' 

"The  'Gospel  Advocate'  having  supplied  us  with  the  Ad- 
dress we  so  much  wished  to  see,  (after  the  allusion  made  to  it 
in  the  letter  of  Bishop  Bowen  to  you,  announcing  your  beloved 
son's  death,)  I  suggested  to  Mr.  Pratt  that  it  would  be  well  to 
reprint  the  Address  in  England.  He  immediately  caught  the 
idea,  and  prepared  a  short  memoir  of  the  life  and  character  of 
your  son,  from  such  materials  as  he  could  command,  to  ac- 
company it,  and  you  will  receive,  perhaps  before  this  reaches 
you,  some  copies  of  a  '  Memoir  and  Obituary  of  the  Rev.  Phi- 
lander Chase,  Son  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  Philander  Chase,  D.  D., 
Bishop,  &c.'  It  has  already  given  much  pleasure  to  some  of 
your  friends  here,  and  must  do  good  to  all  who  will  read  it 
with  attention. 

"  You  will  also,  I  trust,  soon  receive  a  parcel  of  books  for 
the  future  seminary,  which  the  eldest  sou  of  the  late  excellent 
Mr.  John  Bowdler,  the  donor  of  the  chapel  sacrament  plate, 

lias  made  Op  for  this  purpose.  The  parcel  will  contain  a 
memoir  of  his  father,  and  some  engravings  of  English  wor- 
thies, whose  example  may  be  useful  to  excite  your  disciples 
of  a  Protestant    Episcopal  seminary  to  imitation.     I  intend  to 


436  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

solicit  one  of  the  venerable  Bishop  of  Durham:  you  have 
already  got  one  of  the  Bishop  of  St.  David's.  Their  two 
names  stand  first  on  the  pocket  sacrament  plate,  and  their 
veneration  for  you  justifies  the  compliment  which  will  thus  be 
paid  to  them. 

"In  my  last  to  you,  I  alluded  to  the  correspondence  be- 
tween our  inestimable  friend  and  Mr.  Kip.  It  is  a  great 
delight  to  me  to  think  that  the  former's  letter  must  have  been 
for  some  time  at  New  York.  How  low  must  the  opposing 
cause  have  fallen,  before  the  supporters  of  it  are  driven  to 
such  contemptible  measures  for  keeping  it  alive ! 

"Most  heartily  thankful  do  we  all  feel  for  the  safe  and 
happy  journey  vouchsafed  to  you  and  your  dear  family  from 
Kingston  to  Ohio.  May  the  consoling  influences  of  God's 
Spirit  be  granted  to  your  afflicted  daughter-in-law !  Her  situ- 
ation is  indeed  most  afflicting.  The  report  of  your  habitation 
was  quite  as  good  as  could  be  expected  on  your  arrival. 
Heaven  will  bless  it,  I  have  no  doubt,  and  make  it  the  abode 
of  comfort  to  you  and  yours,  and  an  object  of  the  love  and 
veneration  of  your  neighbors. 

"  I  shall  spread  with  great  glee  your  report  of  the  conven- 
tion proceedings,  and  be  somewhat  impatient  till  the  arrival 
of  the  Bishop's  address.  The  interest  which  is  now  felt  in  the 
American  Church,  and  especially  in  that  of  the  western  wil- 
derness, will  never  cease  or  lessen,  but,  I  have  no  doubt,  will 
continually  increase.  About  thirty  years  ago  Bishop  Horsley 
confessed  that  after  he  was  an  English  Bishop  he  was  in  igno- 
rance that  there  were  Bishops  in  Scotland.  Much  greater,  till 
last  year,  was  the  ignorance  of  an  American  Episcopacy,  ex- 
cept the  colonial  one,  and  even  of  that,  thousands,  who  only 
wanted  to  know  of  its  existence  to  feel  its  importance,  were 
ignorant  till  the  stir  made  for  Ohio. 

"You  will  be  glad  to  hear  that  Mr.  Wheaton  has  made  an 
English  edition  of  Dr.  Johnson's  life.  It  not  only  tells  of  the 
early  and  most  interesting  days  of  your  Church,  but  shows 
the  Christian  aid  it  has  from  the  first  had  from  its  mother  in 
England,  and  more  than  justifies,  could  it  want  any  defence, 
what  has  been  lately  done.  How  long  a  few  narrow  and 
party-spirited  minds  will  continue  to  avow  their  disapproba- 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  437 

tion  of  that,  I  know  not.  I  feel  that  I  never  promoted,  by  any 
humble  exertion  of  mine,  the  credit  of  my  Church  and  country 
so  much,  and  that  they  never  in  my  experience  exhibited  in  a 
greater  degree  or  in  a  truer  way  that  spirit  which  encourages 
me  to  hope  for  the  continuance  upon  them  of  the  blessing  of 
God. 

"  I  could  not  hear  anything  more  gratifying  to  my  feelings 
than  that  the  spirit  of  all  your  convention  proceedings  has 
been  that  of  Christian  forgiveness  and  charity.  I  entirely 
think  with  you,  as  Lord  Kenyon,  you  will  find,  also  thinks, 
that  all  reasonable  security  is  provided  by  yonr  preliminaries. 
No  one,  I  believe,  ever  doubted  that  it  would  be,  except  those 
who  wished  to  be  dissatisfied,  and  those  who  were  misled  by 
them.  That  your  hopes  of  '  valuable  donations  in  lands  and 
buildings'  may  be  realized,  I  need  not  say  that  I  sincerely 
pray,  subject  to  that  wisdom  which  only  knows  what  external 
aid  will  tend  to  the  ultimate  and  permanent  prosperity  of  any 
institution  dedicated  to  the  glory  of  God  and  the  good  of  man. 
It  is  most  cheering  to  hear  you  speak  of  collecting  students 
this  winter. 

"I  shall  endeavor  to  get  your  intelligence  respecting  Mr. 

-  to  the  good  Lady  Rosse,  by  sending  a  copy  of  your  letter 

to  Miss  Macfarlane,  who  has  visited  her,  and  acquired  a  suffi- 
cient acquaintance  for  any  communications  half  as  interesting 
as  whatever  respects  Ohio  and  its  Bishop. 

"  I  called  about  a  week  ago  on  the  Bishop  of  Durham,  and 
found  him  most  earnest  to  know  all  that  could  be  known  of 
you  and  your  cause.  I  shall  hope  soon  to  read  your  letter  to 
him.  He  desired  to  be  at  the  head  of  the  contributors  to  the 
portrait  to  be  given  to  the  seminary,  as  he  had  been  in  the  list 
of  those  who  gave  the  pocket  sacrament  plate,  and  are  en- 
graved on  the  bottom  of  the  paten. 

"  I  do  not  know  what  letters  cost  in  their  way  to  you,  but 
beg  you  will  let  me  know  in  your  next,  because,  if  we  live, 
I  shall  do  right  or  wrong  very  often.  (  Mi  this  occasion  I 
shall  venture  on  sending  two,  unless  Lord  K.  knows  better 
and  withholds  the  second,  which  is  only  for  the  sake  of  send- 
ing one  of  the  Memoirs  of  your  dear  son  somewhat  sooner 
than   the   panel   of  them,    which   will   wait  for  the  Church 

37* 


438  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

Missionary  parcels  to  Liverpool,  can  go  towards  its  destina- 
tion. 

"Your  wish,  of  which  I  am  most  unworthy,  of  being  re- 
membered in  my  daily  prayers,  has  been  hitherto  continually 
performed  by  me.  It  is  among  the  many  gromids  of  increased 
assurance  that  God's  providence  will  cherish  mine  and  me 
with  which  I  am  blessed,  that  I  know  your  prayers  ascend 
for  us  all.  May  they  never  cease  till  our  mutual  faith  is  lost 
in  vision,  and  our  hopes  in  fruition  ! 

"  My  dear  wife  is  thoroughly  well,  and  all  my  numerous 
flock  stout,  except  dear  Selina,  who  has  been  somewhat  ailing 
and  weakly  this  winter  since  our  return  from  the  country. 
She  is,  however,  much  better  already,  with  no  extra  aid,  and 
we  live  in  great  hopes  of  seeing  her  quite  restored. 

"  With  the  united  love  of  the  whole  Christmas  circle,  believe 
me  ever  your  most  devoted  and  affectionate  friend, 

"  G.  W.  Marriott." 

Extract  of  a  letter  to  Lord  Kenyon,  in  answer  to  his  of  the 
25th  of  October  and  the  12th  of  November  :  — 

"Worthington,  Ohio,  Feb.  8,  1825. 
"  My  Yery  Dear  Lord  :  — 

"In  both  letters  which  I  am  now  answering  your  Lordship 
is  pleased  to  advert,  with  great  and  very  becoming  solici- 
tude, to  the  preservation  of  the  unity  of  the  Church  in  Amer- 
ica. All  that  is  or  can  be  said  on  the  great  importance  of  this 
matter,  is  but  a  transcript  of  my  own  sentiments ;  and  never 
did  I  bless  God  with  more  fervency  than  for  his  disposing  of 
all  things  which  have  lately  happened  to  this  end.  It  is  now 
clearly  seen  that,  had  the  principle  contended  for  in  the  Brit- 
ish Critic,  of  conferring  power  on  any  one  seminary  in  any 
one  place  to  grant  or  refuse  to  grant  branch  seminaries 
throughout  our  vast  country,  been  maintained,  it  would  have 
thrown  the  Church  into  endless  and  incurable  divisions,  and 
given  rise  to  a  system  of  oppression  and  misrule  hitherto 
unexampled  in  the  history  of  the  Christian  Church.  The 
Roman  pontiff  never  broached  so  wild  a  scheme  of  bringing 
the  world  in  subjection  to  his  control.     It  was  therefore  in 


bishop   chase's  reminiscences.  439 

mercy  to  the  Church  in  America  that  the  progress  of  this 
principle  was  checked  in  time,  and  other  ways  and  means 
of  securing  the  unity  and  harmony  of  the  Church  were 
devised. 

"  Long  before  this  reaches  England  your  Lordship  will  have 
received  the  journals  of  our  convention  ;  also  an  act  incorpo- 
rating a  board  of  trust  by  our  legislature.  By  these  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  Bishops  of  our  Church  are  members  of  our  cor- 
poration, and  have  a  visitatorial  power,  and  the  general  con- 
vention have  a  veto  on  our  laws.  These  facts  being  known, 
who  can  refrain  from  blessing  God  that  he  hath  brought  good 
out  of  evil,  and  secured  the  unity  of  the  Church  by  means 
of  defeating  those  measures  which  were  calculated  to  de- 
stroy it  ? 

"As  to  the  progress  of  our  seminary,  your  Lordship  must 
not  regard  it  as  capable  of  the  same  facilities  as  if  placed  in 
England.  Our  distance  of  one  place  from  another,  and  the 
badness  of  the  roads,  forbid  frequent  communications,  on  which 
despatch  in  any  measure  greatly  depends. 

"But  difficult  as  are  our  means  of  communication,  I  have, 
by  opening  my  own  doors,  gathered  a  few  students  together  of 
considerable  promise.  Would  they  were  further  advanced  in 
learning  !  The  day  of  having  a  supply  of  ministers  to  keep 
our  Churches  alive  is  put  far  from  us.  O  that  God  would  stir 
up  the  hearts  of  a  few  well-educated  young  men  to  present 
themselves  for  his  all-important  work,  to  supply  present  want ! 
As  it  is,  what  can  we  do  ?  May  God  keep  me  from  despair  ! 
I  ought  to  have  begun  his  work  four  years  ago.  But  why  do 
I  complain?  God  hath  been  already,  almost  miraculously, 
good  to  me,  and  who  knows  but  He  may  go  on  to  bless  us 
with  facilities  to  keep  alive  our  parishes.     *     *     * 

"In  the  spring  I  shall  erect  some  temporary  buildings 
(cabins.)  The  two  houses  belonging  to  the  premises  will  not 
accommodate  more  pupils  than  are  now  engaged. 

"I  am  your  Lordship's  most  faithful  and  affectionate  friend 
and  servant,  l\   (  'hase." 

In  answer  to  this  letter  his  Lordship  writes  under  date  of 
the  following  April,  from  which  the  following  arc  extracts:  — 


440  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

"  Portman  Square,  April  11,  1824, 
"My  Yery  Dear  Bishop:  — 

"  This  day  I  have  returned  here  from  a  three  days'  visit  to 
Brighton  with  my  precious  Margaret  and  Edward,  and  have 
found  your  most  kind  and  welcome  letter  of  February  7th  and 
8th.  Most  heartily  do  I  bless  God  for  the  good  account  of 
your  sacred  cause,  of  37'ourself  and  of  your  beloved  family, 
which  it  contains,  and  fervently  pray  for  every  blessing  on 
your  labors  and  on  yourselves. 

"  On  Thursday  last  I  had  good  Dr.  Gaskin,  G.  W.  Marriott, 
and  Mr.  Pratt  at  dinner  here,  and  we  have  laid  the  foundation 
of  another  statement,  to  be  put  forth  by  your  trustees,  and 
which  is  especially  to  express  our  gratification  at  the  fulfil- 
ment of  all  our  most  anxious  wishes  in  respect  of  the  per- 
fectly sound  principles  on  which  your  seminary  is  established. 

"  Our  stay  in  London  is  intended  to  end  on  the  20th  of 
June,  by  which  time  the  special  duties  of  parliament  are  likely 
to  be  over.  The  health  of  my  sweet  children,  and  country 
claims,  make  me  wish  to  get  again  to  Gredington,  and  to  see 
my  loved  and  honored  aunt  at  Peel.  I  heard  from  her  this 
very  morning — a  letter  written  in  good  spirits,  and  with  all 
her  characteristic  kindness  and  affection  towards  me.  I  hope 
this  month  to  see  good  Mr.  Wiggin  in  town,  and  shall  try  to 
make  him  better  acquainted  with  us  all. 

"  A.  Hodgson  is  anxious  about  a  bill  in  parliament  for  a 
railroad  between  Liverpool  and  Manchester.  I  trust  he  may 
succeed  this  year,  but  have  no  fear  of  his  doing  so  next  year, 
please  God  all  things  go  on  well  with  this  signally  favored 
country.  Would  that  we  had  but  hearts  duly  to  appreciate, 
and  duly  endeavor  and  humbly  to  deserve,  collectively  and 
individually,  the  high  blessings  vouchsafed  to  us.  There  is 
much  salt,  I  trust,  among  us,  and  in  this  city,  I  humbly  trust, 
there  are  many  truly  righteous,  though  it  is  not  relying  on  the 
merits  of  any  men,  but  on  God's  special  mercies  only,  that  any 
blessings  are  to  be  hoped  for. 

"  The  dear  good  Bishop  of  St.  David's  (Dr.  Burgess)  I 
have  seen  several  times  lately.  He  is,  thank  God,  quite  well, 
and  busy  as  ever  in  endeavoring  to  fulfil  his  every  duty.  He 
showed  me  your  kind  letter  to  him,  which  he  highly  prizes, 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  441 

and  talked  of  you  with  true  affection  and  regard.  I  wish  we 
could  send  you  some  clergymen  to  relieve  you  in  your  duties, 
which  must  be  overpowering.  God  grant  you  may  have  a 
supply. 

"My  respects  to  Mrs.  C,  for  whose  kindness  we  all  feel 
much  indebted,  and  with  all  our  kindest  wishes,  I  am,  my 
very  dear  Bishop,  your  greatly  obliged  and  affectionate  friend, 

"Ken  yon." 


CHAPTER    XXXVIII. 

DIFFICULTIES    IN    THE    LOCATION    OF     THE     SEMINARY  —  CONVENTION 

AT    ZANESVILLE,    1825. 

The  great  question  where  the  theological  seminary  should 
be  placed,  had  not  been  settled.  The  certificates  of  the  dona- 
tions from  abroad  had  been  thrown  into  the  common  lap  of  the 
diocese,  and  while  they  remained  there  unappropriated  to  any 
particular  place,  all  was  apparent  gratitude,  quietness  and 
peace.  The  Bishop,  who  had  been  the  means  in  God's  hands 
of  collecting  the  money,  was  regarded  with  complacency,  and, 
without  any  support  from  the  diocese,  suffered  to  open  the 
school  at  his  own  expense  in  his  own  house,  appoint  the 
teachers,  and  pay  them  out  of  his  own  means,  for  nothing  had 
as  yet  come  from  England.  But  the  moment  he  began  to 
agitate  the  question,  and  designate  any  place  where,  in  his 
view,  the  institution  ought  to  be  placed,  he  began  to  fail  in  the 
estimation  of  his  friends,  especially  those  who  lived  in  towns 
having,  as  they  thought,  the  greatest  claim  to  the  location  of 
the  seminary.  This  was  carried  so  far,  that,  when  ho  had 
made  some  overtures  to  landholders  to  make  donations  to 
encourage  the  placing  the  institution  on  Alum  creek,  he  was 
censured  and  treated  as  an  enemy  on  entering  the  towns  that 
so  Lately  were  loud  in  his  praise.  "  If  you  will  place  the 
Institution  in  or  near  our  town  or  village,"  said  they  respec- 
tively, "  we  will  give  you  our  patronage;  but  not  a  farthing 
otherwise." 


442  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

In  such  circumstances  there  was  created  a  necessity  for  act- 
ing independently ;  for  the  giving  way  to  the  claims  of  any 
one  place  was  sure  to  create  the  enmity  of  all  the  rest.  And 
this  proved  to  be  the  fact ;  for  when  the  writer  had  made  a 
provisional  location  on  Alum  creek,  and  appeared  in  Zanes- 
ville,  the  convention,  who  met  there,  were  decidedly  hostile  to 
his  views.  He,  however,  plead  his  cause  in  his  address  ;  and 
although  he  did  not  insist  on  the  place  he  had  selected,  freely 
giving  it  up,  and  agreeing  to  bear  all  the  expense  he  had  been 
at  from  his  own  private  funds,  yet  the  principle  of  locating 
the  institution  far  from  towns,  and  of  purchasing  a  landed 
domain  as  a  permanent  endowment,  was  maintained  as  fun- 
damental, and  without  which  the  seminary  would  never 
prosper. 

The  convention  of  Ohio  met  at  Zanesville  on  the  first  day 
of  June,  1825.  There  were  present  six  presbyters  and  nine- 
teen laymen.  The  canon  requires  that  immediately  after 
divine  service  the  Bishop  shall  make  his  address.  Extracts 
of  what  he  delivered  on  this  occasion  are  as  follow :  — 

" Brethren  of  the  Clergy  and  Laity:  — 

"  In  the  accomplishment  of  any  great  design,  there  are 
many  previous  points  to  be  gained ;  and  although,  as  in  sur- 
mounting the  Alps,  we  may  felicitate  ourselves  and  praise 
God  most  devoutly  that  we  have  succeeded  in  ascending  one 
steep,  yet  even  this  rejoicing  seems  intended  to  prepare  us 
with  courage  to  overcome  fresh  difficulties,  which  one  after 
another  rise  still  higher  and  higher  on  our  view. 

"I  introduce  my  address  to  you,  my  brethren,  on  the  sub- 
ject of  our  seminary,  by  this  remark,  with  the  triple  intention, 
that  we  may  be  excited  to  gratitude  for  past  mercies,  be 
apprized  that  difficulties  still  exist,  and  animated  with  holy 
courage  to  overcome  them.     Of  these  each  a  little  in  its  place. 

"  Of  past  mercies  I  told  you  something  when  we  last  met. 
Since  that  time  I  have  been  certified,  through  numerous  and 
most  respectable  channels,  that  the  cause  of  our  seminary,  set 
forth  in  the  'Appeal  in  behalf  of  the  Diocese  of  Ohio,'  has 
continued  to  gain  ground  in  the  best  affections  of  our  English 
friends.     Considerable  accessions  to  the  fund  have  been  made, 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  443 

and  the  spirit  of  good-will  and  Christian  fellowship,  which  it 
was  our  object  always  to  promote,  was  daily  increasing. 
Scarcely  a  post  has  passed  without  bringing  some  good  tidings 
of  great  joy  to  our  infant  seminary.  The  most  encouraging 
words  and  deeds  have  been  recited  to  me  in  letters  from 
persons  most  eminent  for  private  virtue  and  public  station. 
Would  that  their  loved  and  respected  names  could  be  here 
recited !  But  you  know  them,  and  will  embalm  their  kind- 
ness in  your  memories. 

"Aware  that  the  sum  already  raised  is  short  of  what  it 
would  have  been,  but  for  some  events  which  took  place  to 
stop  the  flow  of  British  kindness,  our  friends  in  England, 
deeply  sensible  of  the  importance  of  our  plan  of  founding  a 
Christian  college,  containing  all  the  means  of  full  instruction 
for  the  gospel  ministry,  have  given  me  good  assurance,  that 
while  our  funds  are  accumulating,  both  from  their  own  inter- 
est and  additional  contributions,  we  shall  receive  at  least  what 
would  equal  their  annual  interest,  in  separate  benefactions 
meant  for  current  use. 

"As  to  the  remaining  difficulties,  there  are  none  greater,  we 
trust,  than  such  as  may  arise  from  honest  differences  of  opin- 
ion, and  which,  being  discussed  with  a  Christian  spirit,  we 
hope  soon  will  vanish. 

"To  determine  the  great  question  where  our  seminary  is  to 
be  established,  I  always  considered  as  a  right  belonging  to  the 
convention ;  for  by  that  body  I  understand  an  assembly  of 
men  acting  in  the  fear  of  God  for  the  diocese  in  general ;  free 
from  prejudice,  partial  views  and  local  interests ;  in  short,  an 
assemblage  of  the  wisdom  of  the  whole  diocese — of  the  Bishop, 
of  the  clergy,  and  of  the  laity.  As  an  integral  part,  therefore, 
of  this  body,  I  have  thought  it  my  duty  to  give  this  subject  all 
the  investigation  and  deliberation  in  my  power ;  the  result  of 
which,  the  same  sense  of  duty  now  compels  me  to  lay  before 
you. 

"  Before  we  enter  on  the  consideration  of  any  particular 
place,  tlie  proposals  for  the  seminary  divide  themselves  into 
two  classes,  viz.,  those  for  town  and  those  lor  <<>imtnj  places. 
Having  come  to  this  question  with  an  unbiased  mind.  I  have, 
it  is  believed,  investigated  without  prejudice  both  these  elasses 


444  bishop  chase's  reminiscences, 

of  proposals,  and  am  fully  of  opinion  that  the  latter  nas  the 
preference,  and  for  the  following  reasons:  — 

"  1.  In  the  country  we  can  have  the  choice  of  a  site  most 
eligible  for  health,  which  is  not  always  the  case  of  our  towns, 
as  experience  abundantly  proves. 

"2.  Wherever  in  the  country  our  seminary  is  placed,  the 
lands  for  many  miles  around  will  greatly  increase  in  value ; 
and  if  they  should  be  in  a  state  of  nature,  that  increase,  in  the 
opinion  of  good  judges,  would  be  more  than  doubled.  Should, 
therefore,  the  seminary,  by  gift  or  otherwise,  previously  to  the 
determination  to  fix  absolutely  on  any  place,  be  certain  of 
being  the  possessor  of  some  thousands  of  acres  of  the  surround- 
ing country,  how  surely  and  how  innocently,  yea,  how  justly, 
might  it  share  in  the  gains  of  which  itself  would  thus  be  the 
parent.  Count  these  gains,  and  on  the  most  moderate  scale 
contrast  them  with  the  highest  offer  which  any  town  will 
make,  and  the  preference  of  fixing  our  seminary  in  the  country 
will  be  apparent,  I  have  done  so,  and  am  satisfied:  do  so 
yourselves,  and  I  trust  you  will  be  of  my  opinion. 

"3.  By  placing  our  seminary  on  lands  of  which  itself  is 
the  owner  for  some  distance  around,  we  might  possess,  and, 
if  we  chose,  might  exercise,  a  power  as  effectual  as  salutary — 
a  power  by  right  of  soil — to  prevent  the  evils  which  other- 
wise often  the  best  of  collegiate  laws  cannot  cure. 

''Such  is  the  nature  of  our  civil  government,  that  it  must 
be  employed  rather  in  punishing  than  in  preventing  vice. 
Thus,  of  necessity,  the  woe  falls  more  on  the  seduced  than  on 
the  seducer.  The  tempted  is  punished,  while  the  tempter 
often,  too  often,  escapes  unhurt.  In  schools  and  colleges 
placed  in  cities,  and  receiving  students  from  abroad,  these 
evils  are  most  alarmingly  apparent.  Young  men  are  often 
disgraced  by  punishment,  and  sometimes  ruined  by  expulsion  ; 
whilst,  when  compared  with  their  seducers,  they  are  innocent, 
and  those  who  enticed  them  from  the  paths  of  rectitude  chiefly 
ought  to  suffer. 

"  There  is  a  time  in  youth  when  the  body,  not  the  mind, 
has  attained  maturity — a  time  when,  amid  the  storms  of  pas- 
sion, reason's  feeble  voice  is  scarcely  heard — a  time  when 
inexperience  blinds  the  eye,  and  pleasure,  like  an  opiate,  lulls 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  445 

the  conscience  fatally  to  sleep  —  a  time  when  the  paths  of  sin, 
though  they  end  in  death,  are  hy  the  arts  of  Satan  strewed 
with  flowers — a  time  when  all  restraint,  though  imposed  by 
Mercy's  self,  seems  hard  and  galling.  There  is  in  youth  a 
time  like  this,  and  this  is  that  which  is  commonly  spent  at 
college,  when,  for  the  want  of  means  to  prevent  temptation, 
they  are  most  exposed  to  the  scducements  of  wicked  and 
designing  persons.  This  is  so  true  and  so  frequent,  that 
through  a  life  of  half  a  century,  and  far  the  greater  part  of  this 
spent  in  being  taught,  or  in  teaching  others,  there  has  been  no 
one  subject  on  which  my  mind  has  dwelt  with  deeper  and 
more  melancholy  regret  than  this,  namely,  that  there  were  not 
in  our  seminaries  of  learning  some  way  invented,  or  some 
power  reserved,  by  which  the  temptation  might  be  suppressed, 
and  thus  the  crime  prevented,  or  at  least  the  tempter,  for 
example's  sake,  more  severely  punished;  —  some  way,  I  say, 
by  which  our  youth,  when  removed  from  the  guardian  eye  of 
their  parents,  might  contend  with  vice  on  more  equal  terms  — 
might  be  taught  at  least  the  use  of  weapons  of  self-defence, 
before  they  are  brought,  as  in  our  city  colleges,  to  contend 
unarmed  with  the  worst  enemies  of  their  happiness, — those 
who  find  it  their  interest  or  malicious  pleasure  to  seduce  them 
from  their  studies  into  vice  and  dissipation.  And  here — may 
( iod  be  praised  both  for  the  suggestion  and  the  way  to  accom- 
plish it — this  much-desired  means  of  preventing  evils  which 
no  collegiate  laws  can  cure  (till  that  cure  come  too  late)  is  now 
before  yon.  Put  your  seminary  on  your  own  domain;  be 
owners  of  the  soil  on  which  you  dwelt,  and  let  the  tenure  of 
every  tease  and  deed  depend  on  the  expressed  condition  that 
nothing  detrimental  to  the  morals  and  studies  of  youth  be 
allowed  on  the  premises.  This  condition,  while  it  secures  good 
men  for  the  first  settlers,  will  ensure  them  such  forever;  and 
in  so  doing,  will  close  up  the  greatest,  widest,  and  most  fatal 
avenues  to  vice. 
"  This  expedient  is  so  beneficial  that  it  finds  a  friend  in 

every  parent's  bosom,  and  it  is  so  practicable  that  the  wonder 

is  ia»i  ;ii  its  intrinsic  nature,  but  that,  in  a  country  like  ours, 
it  has  not  been  before  adopted.     It  is  an  expedient  which 

embraces  BO  effectually  the  vital  interests  of  our  seminary,  as 

38 


446  BISHOP     CHASE   S     REMINISCENCES. 

of  itself  to  extinguish  all  objections.  We  might  therefore  spare 
ourselves  the  pains  to  state  them;  for  were  they  ever  so  numer- 
ous, and  with  ever  so  much  plausibility  urged  against  us,  this 
one  feature  of  our  plan  would,  like  Aaron's  rod,  devour  and 
destroy  them. 

"  But  however  convincing  may  be  our  reasons  for  fixing  on 
a  country  place  as  the  site  of  our  seminary,  yet  there  are  some 
objections  which,  though  of  minor  consideration,  seem  to  be 
urged  with  so  much  candor  and  simplicity  as  to  deserve  an 
answer. 

"It  is  said  that  there  are  manifold  difficulties  in  opening  a 
new  country,  and  that  these  will  retard  the  operation  of  our 
seminary. 

"We  answer,  that  however  great  the  difficulties,  the  object 
we  have  in  view  is  still  greater ;  and  to  minds  bent  upon  doing 
the  will  of  their  Master,  these  difficulties  will  but  add  fuel  to 
the  flame  of  desire  to  accomplish  it  to  the  glory  of  God  and 
the  good  of  posterity.  Besides,  if  those  who  will  have  to 
encounter  these  difficulties  do  not  complain,  others,  it  might 
reasonably  be  supposed,  would  be  silent.  As  to  retarding  the 
operations  of  our  seminary,  we  believe  our  plan  will  have  an 
effect  immediately  and  directly  contrary. 

"It  is  understood  that  our  seminary  is  to  go  into  operation 
in  the  house  and  on  the  place  of  my  present  residence,  near 
Worthington,  Franklin  county,  immediately  after  the  rising 
of  the  present  convention.  If  the  buildings  there  should  prove 
insufficient  to  accommodate  the  students,  others  of  a  tempo- 
rary nature  might  be  erected,  or  houses  hired  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. Here  the  seminary  in  all  its  branches,  from  the  grammar 
school  through  all  the  courses  of  collegiate  instruction  to  those 
of  theology,  as  required  by  our  canons,  might  proceed ;  and 
while  this  is  doing,  and  perhaps  as  prosperously  doing  as  if 
our  conveniences  were  still  greater,  will  it  be  an  appalling  and 
disheartening  circumstance  that  such  a  plan  as  this  is  in  oper- 
ation for  the  future  benefit  of  the  Church  ?  Will  the  consid- 
eration that  we  have  an  ample  domain  under  the  specified 
salutary  regulations  on  which  our  lands  are  clearing  and  build- 
ings erecting,  and  to  which  are  drawing  the  best  feelings  and 
wishes  of  our  country,  as  to  a  centre  of  hope  and  promise — 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  447 

will  this  retard  the  present  operations  of  our  seminary  ?  Will 
this  discourage  the  young  men  whose  names  are  first  enrolled 
on  the  pages  of  its  records  1  On  the  contrary,  the  prospect  of 
the  future  utility,  greatness,  and  glory  of  our  institution, 
founded  under  such  auspices  as  these,  will,  it  should  seem, 
unite  all  hearts  and  animate  all  endeavors  to  build  up  its  walls 
and  adorn  its  palaces.  By  giving  this  firmness,  though  but  in 
prospect,  to  its  foundation,  and  by  thus  exhibiting  its  future 
strength  to  public  view,  more  courage  even  for  the  present  will 
be  inspired,  and  more  strength  will  be  exercised  in  removing 
even  present  difficulties ;  for  who  does  not  know  that  man's 
present  endeavors  are  in  proportion  to  his  future  hopes? 

"  If  I  were  to  judge  in  this  matter  from  my  present  feelings, 
and  if  it  were  proper  to  express  them  here,  I  should  be  com- 
pelled to  declare  my  great  dislike  to  the  confining  of  our  views 
within  the  contracted  sphere  marked  out  by  some  for  a  city 
seminary ;  and  that  both  my  judgment  and  my  feelings  accord 
with  the  expressed  opinion  of  benefactors  in  England,  I  my- 
self am  witness  and  do  here  testify." 

The  Bishop  then  spoke  of  his  having  selected  a  site  on  Alum 
creek,  twelve  miles  from  Columbus,  and  of  his  having  pro- 
ceeded to  make  some  improvements  in  clearing  the  lands  given 
him  by  a  generous  individual,  concluding  his  remarks  in  these 
words :  — 

"  But  by  no  means  would  I  urge  you  to  receive  them  if 
they  be  not  accompanied  by  other  offers  from  neighboring 
landholders,  which  it  is  so  much  their  interest  to  make.  It 
would  be  a  deed  so  manifestly  unreasonable  for  our  seminary 
to  enrich  a  neighboring  landlord,  by  more  than  doubling  the 
value  of  his  estate,  while  he  withholds  all  contributions  to  the 
Bame,  that,  rather  than  submit  to  such  imposition,  my  predi- 
lections in  favor  of  the  site  selected  would  vanish,  and  my 
mind  be  open  to  similar  oilers  from  other  places.  And  lest  my 
proceedings  should  be  in  any  wise  construed  into  a  semblance 
of  a  jili-dgc  of  myself  or  the  convention  to  fix  our  seminary  on 
the  proposed  ground,  it  is  proper  to  say  that  all  that  has  been 
dom-  has  been  at  my  own  expense  and  on  my  own  responsi- 
bility. 


448  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

"  Thus,  as  was  my  duty,  have  I  laid  both  my  sentiments 
and  actions  touching  our  seminary  before  this  convention.  If 
yon,  my  brethren,  interpret  them  as  favorably  as  my  endeavors 
have  been  sincerely  directed  to  secure  the  best  interests  of  the 
Church,  I  shall  be  most  happy. 

"  Having  thus  tried,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to  do  my  duty  in 
this  important  matter,  am  I  not  commanded  by  my  station,  in 
the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  to  tell  you  what  is  yours  ? 
Act  then  solely  for  the  good  of  the  seminary,  and  however  you 
may  wish  it  were  consistent  with  that  good  that  the  same  were 
placed  at  your  own  doors  respectively,  yet  remember  that  God 
willeth  that,  in  deliberating  on  this  subject,  you  lay  aside  all 
sectional,  partial,  and  self-interested  views.  The  nature  of  the 
funds  of  which  you  are  now  to  dispose, — given  in  a  foreign 
land  from  the  purest  motives  of  Christian  love,  and  confided 
to  your  disposal  with  a  magnanimity  worthy  of  apostolic  days. 
—  seems  to  call  on  you,  as  God  once  called  on  Moses,  for  more 
than  ordinary  consideration.  —  "  Put  off  thy  shoes  from  off  thy 
feet,  for  the  place  whereon  thou  standest  is  holy  ground;'1 
yes,  beyond  dispute,  too  holy  to  entertain  any  sentiments  other 
than  those  of  zeal  and  unanimity  in  the  pursuit  of  the  one 
great  design  which  gave  birth  to  all  our  efforts,  namely,  that 
of  founding  and  erecting  a  seminary,  not  for  the  aggrandize- 
ment of  any  city,  town  or  village,  but  for  the  general  encour- 
agement of  religion  and  learning,  in  the  education  of  pious 
young  men  for  the  Christian  ministry." 

After  speaking  at  some  length  of  the  Bishop's  employment 
in  Episcopal  visitations  since  his  return  from  England,  the 
address  thus  concludes:  — 

"  With  regard  to  our  affairs  in  England,  it  becomes  my  duty 
to  state,  that,  besides  the  permanent  fund,  now  rising  of  five 
thousand  guineas,  there  remained  at  the  last  advices  a  large 
collection  of  books  still  in  London,  given  by  most  benevolent 
individuals ;  also  the  stereotype  plates  for  our  Prayer  Book, 
and  a  separate  fund  for  a  most  complete  set  of  printing  types, 
to  carry  into  effect  an  essential  part  of  our  plan.  Of  the  books 
given  in  England  already  arrived  in  America,  some,  together 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  449 

with  one  hundred  and  twelve  pairs  of  blankets,  a  large  pair 
of  globes,  and  a  set  of  mathematical  instruments,  are  on  their 
way  from  New  York  hither. 

"  The  books  from  England  already  come  to  hand  and  now 
embodied  in  the  library  are  four  hundred  and  thirty-six. 
These,  added  to  what  we  had  before,  (about  seven  hundred 
volumes,)  and  to  what  are  still  in  London  for  us,  will  cause 
our  hearts  to  sing  for  joy ;  for  a  better  selection,  both  for  piety 
and  sound  learning,  is  scarcely  to  be  found.  Besides  the  books 
enumerated  already  in  our  library,  there  were  many  duplicates 
to  be  distributed  among  our  clergy  and  infant  parishes.  A 
whole  box  of  these,  consisting  of  many  hundreds,  principally 
of  publications  by  that  most  estimable  Society  for  Promoting 
Christian  Knowledge,  was  the  gift  of  one  to  whom  we  are 
already  so  much  indebted,  and  whose  name  we  shall  never 
mention  but  with  blessings,  the  Rt.  Hon.  Lady  Countess  Dow- 
ager oi  Rosse. 

"  I  have  now,  my  brethren,  after  a  very  imperfect  manner, 
brought  my  address  nearly  to  a  close.  During  the  course  of 
this  duty  my  mind  has  undergone  a  painful  restraint,  from 
which  I  rejoice  to  be  set  free,  though  but  for  a  moment. 

u  I  have  been,  through  necessity,  speaking  solely  of  outward 
things.  Let  us  now  speak  of  those  things  which  concern  the 
heart  and  the  spirit ;  —  I  mean  our  prayers  to  God  for  his  bless- 
ing on  all  we  do.  Pray  ye  then  for  the  good  of  our  loved 
Zion.  Until  very  lately  a  cloud  dark  and  heavy  hung  over 
her  infant  head;  and  even  now,  the  light  which  by  God's 
mercy  has  broken  in  upon  us  from  the  east  serves  but  to  dis- 
cover how  weak  we  are.  And  though  on  the  bosom  of  the 
tempest  which  surrounds  us,  British  benevolence  has  painted 
the  rainbow  of  hope,  yet  that  hope  must  be  cherished  with 
faith,  and  that  faith  must  live  by  the  breath  of  prayer.  O 
pray  we  then  to  Him,  who  ordereth  the  storm  for  our  trial, 
and  sendeth  the  rain  for  our  comfort.  Though  in  ruins,  cast 
us  not  off  forever,  O  God  of  mercy  !  Raise  up  thy  power  and 
come  amongst  us:  Lift  up  the  light  of  thy  countenance  upon 
us,  and  give  us  peace,  both  now  and  evermore.  —  Amen." 

During  the  delivery  of  the  above  address  in  the  convention 

38* 


450  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

at  Zanesville.  there  was  manifested  great  uneasiness,  and  when 
the  time  came  to  make  remarks,  there  was  great  opposition 
made  to  placing  the  seminary  anywhere  but  near  some  town. 

"  To  build  up  a  literary  institution  from  the  stump,  in  the 
woods,  was  a  chimerical  project,  and  would  surely  fail,  and 
become  an  object  of  ridicule."  This  was  the  sentiment  of  Col. 
John  Johnston j  of  Piqua,  who  mentioned  Franklinton,  near 
Columbus,  as  an  eligible  place,  and  offered  to  procure  the  old 
court-house,  and  other  buildings  of  that  county,  as  a  gift  to 
the  seminary,  if  placed  there,  alleging  that  they  were  worth 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars ! !  as  by  his  statement  made  in 
writing  is  still  to  be  seen.  Others  insisted  on  its  being  placed 
in  Chillicothe,  others  in  Worthington,  others  in  Cincinnati, 
others  in  Zanesville,  Delaware,  etc.  All  went  to  procure  the 
postponement  of  the  resolution  to  fix  the  institution  on  Alum 
creek,  and  to  set  a  time,  the  term  of  ten  months,  in  which  the 
Bishop  might  receive  propositions  from  other,  or  any  places 
within  the  diocese,  which  he  should  preserve,  and  lay  before 
the  next  convention.  It  was  also  resolved,  that  public  notice 
should  be  given  during  the  first  six  of  the  ten  months,  inviting 
such  proposals.  This  defeat  of  the  Alum  creek  project  was  at 
the  time  a  supposed  triumph ;  and  such  certainly  it  was,  but 
not  in  the  way  expected,  for  God  ordered  it  not  to  gratify  a 
mercenary  anti-Episcopal  spirit,  but  to  enlarge  his  Church, 
and  the  means  of  doing  good.  And  often  has  the  writer  since 
reflected  on  the  painful  moments  which  he  passed  in  Zanes- 
ville, at  this  convention,  with  feelings  of  peculiar  gratitude,  in 
view  of  the  glorious  results  of  his  failure  on  Alum  creek. 

Will  not  all  our  disappointments  in  life  be  made  to  end 
something  in  this  way 1 

On  the  third  day  of  June,  1825,  the  first  meeting  of  the  trus- 
tees of  the  Theological  Seminary  of  Ohio  took  place  in  Zanes- 
ville, it  is  believed,  on  the  very  day  on  which  the  convention 
of  the  diocese  had  adjourned. 

The  writer  presided. 

There  were  only  three  clergymen  present,  of  whom  the  Rev. 
I.  Morse  was  chosen  secretary ;  Col.  John  Johnston,  of  Piqua 
only,  of  the  laity,  attended.  On  the  minutes  of  this  meeting 
it  was  thus  recorded :  — 


bishop   chase's  reminiscences.  451 

u  The  following  preamble  and  resolution  were  unanimously 
adopted  —  Whereas,  the  convention  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal Church  within  the  Diocese  of  Ohio,  at  their  late  session, 
(June,  1825,)  did  authorize  and  direct  that  the  trustees  of  the 
Theological  Seminary  should  take  immediate  measures  for 
opening  said  seminary,  on  the  premises  of  the  Bishop,  near 
Worthington ;  and  for  continuing  the  same  there  until  a  per- 
manent location  be  made  therefor :  Resolved,  by  the  board  of 
trustees  aforesaid,  that  the  Bishop  is  hereby  authorized  and 
empowered  to  cause  to  be  commenced  the  different  courses  of 
instruction  which  may  be  necessary  in  the  same,  to  employ 
teachers,  a  steward,  and  all  other  persons  proper  and  neces- 
sary to  carry  the  views  of  the  Board  into  effect ;  to  fix  and 
regulate  their  compensation,  the  price  of  tuition,  boarding, 
washing,  and  lodging,  and  to  exercise  all  the  controlling 
power  over  the  said  seminary  which  is  generally  customary 
in  incorporated  seminaries,  the  board  reserving  to  themselves, 
at  all  times,  the  power,  in  conjunction  with  the  Bishop,  of 
repealing,  altering,  or  amending  any  such  rules  or  regulations 
aforesaid. 

"Adjourned.     (A  true  copy)  Attest. 

"Intrepid  Morse,  Sec'' y  pro  temP 

Thus  was  the  writer  invested  with  power  to  do  that  which 
he  had  already  done,  and  to  carry  on  an  institution  to  which 
neither  the  convention  nor  the  trustees  had  personally  or 
officially  contributed  a  dollar.  He  might  go  on  in  his  duties 
as  Bishop  and  President,  but  he  had  not  the  promise  of  a  cent 
of  income  to  pay  his  expenses.  He  might  appoint  the  teach- 
ers, and  other  officers,  and  pay  them  himself.  He  might 
board,  and  teach,  and  wash,  for  the  students,  and  get  his  pay 
as  well  as  he  could.  Not  a  farthing  was  provided  by  the 
board  to  carry  on  the  great  work,  and  no  way  was  pointed 
OUt,  or  even  thought  of,  by  which  a  loan  could  he  effected  to 
pay  even  a  servant  or  a  secretary.  The  writer  saw  all  this, 
and  the  guarded  care  by  which  even  this  power  was  extended 
to  him. 

But   these  circumstances  did    not  disturb   his  peace.     He 


452  bishop  cha.se's  reminiscences. 

went  steadily  on,  as  if  the  world  was  at  his  command,  and  the 
gold  and  silver  thereof  were  all  at  his  disposal.  By  the  tenor 
of  the  above  instrument,  especially  by  the  words  "  authorized, " 
"empowered,"  there  seems  to  be  conveyed  an  idea  that  the 
seminary  should  be  responsible  for  his  pecuniary  obligations, 
if  he  should  make  any,  and  thus  to  raise  a  credit  for  him  on 
which  he  might  go  on  and  prosper  in  the  work  of  founding 
the  Western  Seminary  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 
But  in  point  of  fact  nothing  could  be  more  aside  from  the 
truth  than  this.  The  seminary  had  no  credit.  All  its  corpo- 
rate powers  could  not  borrow  a  shilling  without  his  personal 
responsibility. 

The  writer  never  signed  his  name  as  president  and  agent 
of  the  corporate  body,  to  any  obligation  binding  them,  and  not 
himself.  If  he  had,  the  same  would  not  have  passed  in  trade 
for  anything.  He  never  thought  of  such  a  thing.  Never 
exceeding  his  personal  ability,  he  made  all  his  obligations, 
and  entered  into  all  his  contracts,  in  his  own  name ;  and  thus, 
in  the  very  commencement  of  the  great  stream,  never  ventur- 
ing beyond  his  own  depth,  he  waded  through  all  his  difficul- 
ties uninjured. 

The  school  went  on  at  Worthington,  in  his  own  house  and 
farm-house,  and  other  buildings  erected  at  his  own  expense  on 
his  farm. 

The  writer  appointed  his  teachers,  and  paid  them  from  his 
own  funds,  and  such  as  he  collected  from  the  students  them- 
selves. His  wife  was  his  secretary,  his  housekeeper,  his 
adviser  and  treasurer,  in  all  this.  Such  a  commencement  of  a 
great  institution  of  religion  and  learning,  on  so  economical  a 
plan,  was  never  elsewhere  witnessed.  Everything  was  the 
subject  of  the  minutest  examination,  and  every  hour  was 
filled  with  solicitude  and  care. 


The  record  of  this  year  is  best  closed  with 

A   FEW    SELECT    LETTERS   FROM    FRIENDS    ABROAD. 

The  writer's  Journal,  containing  dates  of  this  current  year, 
1825,  and  till  June  convention,  1826,  is  correctly  stated  in  his 
Address  to  his  convention ;  but  as  his  correspondence,  espe- 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  453 

cially  with  friends  abroad,  being  inadmissible  in  that  docu- 
ment, are  nevertheless  calculated  to  embellish  this  memoir,  a 
select  few  will  here  be  inserted,  especially  such  as  speak  of 
public  events. 

1.    From  Geo.  W.  Marriott,  Esq.,  to  the  writer. 

"Queen's  Square,  20th  June,  1825. 
"  My  Dear  and  Venerated  Friend  :  — 

"I  usually  dislike  crossing  letters,  and  shall  be  found  to  wait 
till  you  have  acknowledged  my  last,  before  you  are  troubled 
with  another ;  but  yours  of  the  24th  of  March  to  Lord  Kenyon 
may  account  for  disturbing  my  ordinary  course.  We  hail 
your  prospects  with  delight,  and  thankfulness  to  God,  who 
blesses  his  own  cause  in  your  hands  ! 

"You  will  not,  I  trust,  quarrel  with  Lord  K.  and  myself 
for  giving  your  letter  all  the  circulation  we  could  privately. 
I  sent  it  to  faithful  Robert  Caldicott,  at  Oxford,  where  your 
friends  have  read  it  most  eagerly,  and  to  Mr.  Roberts,  in  N. 
Wales,  who  immediately  opened  a  correspondence  with  Mr. 
Wiggin,  and  meant  to  go  to  him  if  necessity  arose.  I  really 
hope  your  wish  of  having  some  English  or  Welsh  among 
your  new  settlers  may  be  granted. 

"  You  will  much  rejoice  to  hear  that  though  we  have  not 
yet  seen  [XJ  a  letter  has  reached  Mr.  Hartwell  Home,  from 
Dr.  Turner,  one  of  the  professors  in  the  seminary  at  New 
York,  wherein  he  expresses  his  full  conviction  of  the  expedi- 
ency of  the  proposed  seminary  in  Ohio,  and  hopes  it  will  be  as 
leading  an  institution  for  the  western  as  that  at  New  York  is 
for  the  eastern  states.  Mr.  H.  H.  received  at  the  same  time 
a  letter  from  Dr.  Jarvis,  of  Boston,  who  speaks  most  .satisfac- 
torily of  the  general  popularity  of  your  plan  in  America. 
Surely  it  will  make  a  most  important  topic  in  the  subjects  to 
be  brought  forward  at  the  next  general  convention. 

"My  excellent  relation,  Mr.  Stow,  of  Greenwich,  (from 
whom  I  think  you  have  heard  since  your  return,)  lias  taken 
a  mval  inte real  in  your  last  letter,  and  made  Bome  suggestions 
which  I  cannot  hrlp  onnmimieating  to  you.  YoXJL  will  par- 
don s<»  occupied  b  man  it*  I  do  QOt  transcribe  them.  Your 
friend  the  Bishop  of  Durham  has  quite  recovered  from  a  pain- 


454  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

ful  illness  in  his  ninety-second  year.  Bishop  Burgess'  trans- 
lation to  Salisbury,  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Fisher,  has  led  to  such 
public  testimonies  of  the  reverence  and  affection  felt  for  him 
by  his  Welsh  clergy  as  are  hardly  to  be  paralleled  in  any 
period  of  the  history  of  the  Church.  I  enclose  you  the  Car- 
marthen address,  which  you  will  delight  to  peruse,  and  read  to 
others.  I  fear  that  I  must  request  it  may  not  be  published. 
I  trust  that  the  well-deserved  laurels  which  adorn  his  brow 
may  operate  usefully  on  all  other  Bishops,  and  especially  his 
successors  in  St.  David's. 

"  I  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  Mr.  Pratt  say  that  Wick- 
liffe's  candlesticks  were  to  set  out  the  day  before  yesterday 
towards  Ohio.  I  hope  they  will  not  be  injured.  They  are  an 
exact  copy  of  the  originals  at  Lutterworth. 

"  He  will  send  you  the  new  statement  by  the  trustees, 
which  is  chiefly  from  the  pen  of  Lord  K.  Mr.  P.  talks  of 
getting  it,  or  large  extracts  from  it,  into  the  periodical  publi- 
cations, which  I  greatly  encouraged. 

"I  am  most  thankful  to  say  that  my  dear  wife  and  family 
are  quite  well.  They  join  me  in  kindest  remembrances  to 
you  and  all  yours.     I  am  ever,  my  dear  and  venerated  friend, 

"Yours  most  affectionately, 

"G.  W.  Marriott. 

"P.  S.  I  have  just  opened  a  letter  from  a  South  Wales 
clergyman,  to  whom  I  sent  a  copy  of  yours  to  Lord  K.  He 
says,  '  I  have  transcribed  the  whole  of  it,  with  the  view  of 
showing  it  to  my  friends  in  the  diocese,  of  St.  David's,  and 
becoming  perhaps  the  humble  instrument  in  promoting  in  some 
small  degree  the  pious  designs  of  the  apostolical  American 
Bishop,  in  our  poor  principality.  May  his  truly  Christian 
exertions  be  crowned  with  every  success,  is  my  sincere  wish 
and  humble  prayer ! 


5  >> 


2.  The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  writer's  most  affec- 
tionate friend,  afterwards  Lord  Bishop  of  Sodor  and  Man. 
The  date  is  not  annexed,  but  the  mention  of  the  dying  condi- 
tion of  the  Duke  of  York  may  fix  its  period  with  sufficient 
precision.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Ward,  then  rector  of  Great  Horksley, 
near  Nayland,  says :  — 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  455 

"I  have  just  returned  from  the  funeral  of  an  old  divine,  a 
great  friend  and  favorite  of  the  good  Mr.  Jones.  I  this 
moment  remember  you  saw  him  the  first  night  you  were  at 
my  house,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Halward.  He  administered  the  last 
sacrament  to  Mr.  Jones,  and  performed  the  last  holy  office 
over  his  remains  at  the  grave. 

"  He  was  a  perfect  and  upright  man,  who  walked  humbly 
with  his  God,  trod  closely  in  the  steps  of  his  Saviour,  and 
labored  earnestly  through  a  long  life  to  draw  all  his  flock  to 
heaven  after  him.  The  good  man,  on  this  day  week,  sat 
down  to  dinner  in  perfect  health  and  good  spirits,  and  just  as 
he  had  finished,  before  the  cloth  was  removed,  he  was  struck 
with  apoplexy,  and  in  less  than  half  an  hour  it  was  all  over, 
without  a  sigh  or  emotion.  No  person  could  fall  asleep  with 
more  apparent  ease. 

"It  was  a  common  saying  of  his,  'Sudden  death  to  the 
believer  is  sudden  glory ;'  I  am  sure  it  was  to  him.  It  is  very 
remarkable,  the  Sunday  before  his  death,  in  giving  out  the 
sacrament  for  Christmas  Day,  he  did  what  he  never  did 
before,  (for  he  was  a  strict  observer  of  canonical  order,)  he 
addressed  the  congregation  from  the  desk.  He  said  he  had 
given  notice  of  the  sacrament  that  day  in  preference  to  the 
next  Sunday,  in  order  to  give  them  more  time  to  prepare,  and 
that  more  might  attend  that  holy  ordinance.  Those  that  were 
not  prepared  to  receive  that  holy  sacrament  were  not  pre- 
pared to  die,  and  any  of  them  might  be  struck  dead  with  a 
stroke  of  the  apoplexy  before  they  reached  their  homes ;  'Come, 
then,'  said  he,  'come  all,  and  come  well  prepared;  let  me  not 
miss  one  of  you ;  I  want  to  take  you  all  to  heaven  with  me.' 
These  last  words  he  uttered  with  great  energy  of  tone  and 
gesture.  Thus  the  good  old  man  of  God  performed  his 
Church  duty  twice  on  the  last  Sunday  of  his  life,  said  grace 
over  his  last  meal,  and  returned  (banks  for  that  and  all  mer- 
cies, and  now  his  spirit  has  joined  the  beatified  spirit  of  the 
saint  of  Nayland,  in  heaven,  and  their  bodies  are  keeping  near 
each  other  on  earth  in  spc  AvuautoeuK,  till  the  morning  of  the 
resumption.  He  preaches  from  the  grave  to  us  all,  saying, 
'  Be  ye  then-fore  ready  also,  for  the  Son  of  man  cometh  in  an 


456  BISHOP   chase's   reminiscences. 

hour  when  ye  think  not.'     May  we  all  be  prepared  to  say, 
c  Come  then,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly.' 

"Our  Duke  of  York  is  dying  — a  great  loss  to  the  nation, 
according  to  our  imperfect  view  of  things.  But  if  it  go  well 
with  the  Church  of  Christ  by  *  *  *  *  *  *  abroad  and  at 
home,  our  empire  will  flourish  and  prosper.  May  all  the 
blessings  of  the  season  attend  you  and  yours,  including  family 
and  diocese  —  the  affectionate  prayer  of  your  faithful, 

"W.  Ward." 


CHAPTER    XXXIX. 

ADDRESS    TO    THE    CONVENTION,  1826  —  FIRST   VISIT    TO    THE    FUTURE 

SITE    OF     THE     SEMINARY INTERESTING    INTERVIEW    WITH    THE 

MOHAWK   INDIANS RESULTS  OF  A  VISIT  TO  THE   EAST RESOLU- 
TION AND  ACT  OF  THE  CONVENTION. 

The  thread  of  this  memoir  will  now  best  be  preserved  by 
introducing  here  such  extracts  from  the  writer's  address  to  the 
convention  on  the  7th  of  June,  1826,  and  the  journal  of  that 
year,  as  give  a  summary  account  of  his  doings,  and  those  of 
the  convention,  at  that  time. 

" Brethren : 

"The  history  of  the  P.  E.  Church  in  Ohio,  during  the 
last  year,  exhibits  little  more  than  the  deplorable  effects  of  the 
want  of  clergymen.  Except  my  own  feeble  endeavors,  the 
parishes  in  the  diocese  have  been  blessed  with  the  regular 
ministrations  of  but  three  clergymen;  these  are  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Morse,  Johnston  and  Hall.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Searle  has 
been  for  the  greater  part  of  the  year  absent  from  the  diocese, 
I  am  told,  for  the  recovery  of  his  health.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Armstrong,  residing  in  Virginia,  has  been  able  to  devote  but  a 
small  part  of  his  time  in  this  diocese. 

"My  own  duties,  during  the  past  year,  have  been  so  weighty 
and  difficult,  and  withal  of  such  different  natures,  that  I  fear 
but  few  of  them  have  been  rightly  discharged.  They  need 
the  forbearance  of  man  and  the  mercy  of  God.     Some  of  these 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  457 

have  related  to  the  diocese,  some  to  the  institution  of  religion 
and  learning  committed  to  our  care,  and  not  a  few  of  those  to 
struggles  for  the  means  of  living. 

"At  the  convention  of  last  year  in  Zanesville,  I  confirmed 
seven  persons,  and  admitted  Mr.  Gideon  McMillan,  a  candi- 
date for  Holy  Orders.  Thence  having  returned  to  the  place 
of  my  residence,  I  did  the  duties  of  a  parochial  clergyman  in 
Worthington,  Columbus,  Delaware,  and  Berkshire,  as  well  as 
my  manifold  avocations  would  permit.  Not  a  Sunday  is 
recollected,  except  two,  in  which  I  did  not  perform  divine 
service  morning  and  evening ;  and  I  often  preached  on  week 
days  in  these  parishes  when  not  engaged  in  distant  jour- 
neys." 

[Then  follow  the  particulars  of  a  journey  of  nearly  two  months'  continuance, 
(during  which  divine  service  was  celebrated,  a  sermon  delivered,  and  the  sacra- 
ments administered,  nearly  every  day,)  throughout  the  counties  of  Licking, 
Coshocton,  Holmes,  Perry,  Knox,  Huron,  &c] 

The  narrative  proceeds  :  — 

"August  17.  Went  to  Mr.  Woodward's,  where  I  read 
prayers  and  preached.  And  though  brevity  in  my  narrative 
is  indispensable,  I  cannot  refrain  from  stopping  to  record  some 
things  which  have  touched  my  heart's  best  feelings,  and  given 
a  new  and  most  interesting  direction  to  our  endeavors  to  ben- 
efit the  human  family.  These  things  concern  the  natives  of 
our  land. 

"Some  time  ago  I  had  heard  of  the  scattered  remnants  of 
the  Oneida  and  Mohawk  tribes  who  still  retained  the  use  of 
our  Liturgy,  once  taught  them  by  the  British  missionaries 
when  they  resided  under  that  government.  It  was  my  most 
anxious  wish  to  see  and  converse  with  them.  This  wish  it 
pleased  God  most  graciously  to  gratify-  I  paid  them  a  visit, 
setting  off  from  Mr.  Woodward's  after  divine  service  and  a 
sermon.  We  lodged  at  Mr.  Coles',  the  last  house  in  the  white 
settlements. 

"August  18.  The  morning  of  the  18th  of  August  gave 
some  hopes  of  a  fair  and  pleasant  day,  but  it  proved  other- 
wise. The  sky  was  soon  overcast,  and  a  dark  gloom  hung 
over  the  forest,  already  dark  and  gloomy  by  the  thickness  of 

39 


458  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

the  deep  green  foliage.     Our  way  was  nearly  west,  towards 
the  Sandusky  river,  and  lay  through  a  pathless  desert,  with 
hardly  a  trace  to  guide  our  steps ;  but  confident  in  the  good- 
ness of  our  cause,  and  the  protection  and  blessing  of  the  com- 
mon Father  of  men  and  nations,  we  set  forward.    The  beauty 
of  an  open  Oakland  scenery  for  a  time  cheered  us ;  but  it  soon 
changed  to  a  thick,  dark,  underleafed  forest,  in  which,  having 
missed  our  path,  we  travelled  in  the  rain,  it  was  judged,  five- 
and-twenty  miles,  before  we  reached  the  huts  of  the  Indians 
we  were  seeking.     To  us,  wet,  hungry,  and  way-sore,  these 
little  shelters  from  the  storm  appeared  like  the  abodes  of  com- 
fort.    Some  aged  men  and  women  of  the  Mohawks,  fit  em- 
blems of  their  tribe,  once  vigorous,  now  in  decay,  met  us  at 
their  lowly  cabin  doors.     My  worthy  friend  and  guide,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Coe,  who  had  seen  and  known  these  interesting  peo- 
ple before,  now  told  them  my  name  and  errand.     I  passed 
around  their  little  settlement,  and  the  evening  and  the  morn- 
ing were  spent  in  trying  to  do  them  good.     I  found  them  not 
like  heathens.     They  had  known  Jesus,  their  Creator  and 
Saviour,  from  their  youth ;  and  the  liturgy  and  formularies  of 
the  Church  of  England,  with  part  of  the  book  of  Genesis,  and 
the  Gospel  of  St.  Mark,  translated  into  their  language  A.  D. 
1787,  had  been  the  blessed  means  by  which  this  faith  has 
been  taught  and  handed  down  by  their  forefathers.*    What  a 
comment  this  on  the  great  utility  of  accompanying  the  trans- 
lation of  the  Scriptures   with  the  formularies  of    primitive 
devotion  !    And  what  an  overpowering  refutation  is  this  of  the 
ungodly  objections  made  to  the  Christianizing  of  the  heathen, 
by  diffusing  the  light  of  the  Holy  Bible  among  them !     From 
this  instance  of  God's  blessing  on  the  means,  let  Christians  take 
courage.     Their  bread  being  cast  by  faith  on  the  waters  of 
God's  providence,  shall  return  blessed  after  many  days ;  and 
though  now,  through  much  persecution  from  the  hosts  of  infi- 
delity, they  go  on  their  way  weeping,  yet,  if  they  persevere, 


*  The  English  "  Society  for  Promoting  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts"  is  to  be  thanked 
for  this  notable  effort  to  save  the  Aborigines  of  America.  This  translation  of  the  Bible 
and  Liturgy  into  the  language  of  the  Mohawks  has  been  the  means  of  salvation  to 
thousands  of  this  unhappy  race.  How  blessed  of  God  is  that  people  who  published 
good  tidings ! 


BISHOP     CHASE'S     REMINISCENCES;  459 

the  whole  world  will,  like  a  ripe  field  of  corn,  come  to  the 
Christian  faith  with  joy,  and  bring  their  sheaves  of  holy  fruit 
with  them. 

'August  19.  Divine  service  was  performed  with  these 
Indians  on  the  morning  of  this  day ;  though  it  rained  inces- 
santly, they  came  in  goodly  numbers,  and  seemed  with  one 
heart  and  voice  to  join  in  the  responses,  as  the  prayers  were 
read  by  myself,  and  repeated  by  an  elderly  person  in  their 
language.  By  their  apparent  simplicity  and  godly  sincerity, 
I  was  reminded  of  the  accounts  given  us  of  the  Apostolic 
worship. 

"I  could  not  part  from  these  most  engaging  people,  without 
giving  them  some  hopes  of  being  benefited  by  the  school, 
which  had  been  committed  to  our  care,  through  the  bounty  of 
their  former  benefactors.  I  promised  to  take  several  of  their 
young  men  and  boys,  board  and  educate  them,  looking  to  God 
for  means  and  ability  to  support  me  in  so  great  an  expense. 
And  here  I  cannot  resist  the  desire  to  connect  the  sequel  with 
the  beginning  of  their  history,  though  it  destroy  the  order  of 
my  narrative. 

"Soon  after  my  visit  to  the  Mohawks,  on  Sandusky  river,  I 
mentioned  the  subject  casually  in  a  letter  to  the  Secretary  of 
State,  and  he  most  kindly  mentioned  it  to  the  Secretary  of 
War,  at  whose  judicious  disposal  is  committed  a  small  fund 
for  benefiting  the  natives.  Through  these  means  God  was 
pleased  to  bless  the  object  I  had  in  view.  After  performing 
my  tour,  I  went  again  from  my  home,  in  the  month  of  No- 
vember, in  my  own  carriage,  for  the  promised  Indian  lads. 
The  distance  from  my  residence  to  their  dwellings  in  the 
woods  is  one  hundred  miles.  The  weather  was  cold,  and 
the  road,  a  part  of  the  way,  very  bad.  Yet  God  enabled  me 
to  bear  the  fatigue,  and  crowned  my  efforts  with  success.  Six 
of  the  Mohawks  came  with  me,  four  of  whom  I  have  seen 
proper  to  retain  at  the  school  as  lads  of  great  promise.  Since 
that,  one  of  another  tribe  has,  by  a  private  gentleman,  been 
placed  at  the  school. 

"  The  goodness  of  God  appeared  especially,  when,  on  my 
arriv;il  at  my  dwelling  with  my  interesting  charge,  I  found  on 
my  table  assurances  from  the  Secretary  of  War  that  I  should 


460  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

be  indemnified  for  their  maintenance  and  education.  Govern- 
ment will  allow  me  one  hundred  dollars  per  annum,  apiece, 
for  six.  Before  quitting  this  subject  I  cannot  but  add,  for  the 
benefit  of  the  friends  of  this  part  of  the  human  family,  that 
the  youths  above  mentioned,  viz.,  John  Heron.  John  Bucking- 
ham^ Joseph  Hero?i*  and  John  White,  have  behaved  them- 
selves with  great  propriety,  have  improved  much  in  their 
learning,  and  attended  to  every  duty  with  great  cheerfulness : 
particularly  have  they  seemed  to  take  delight  in  reading  and 
committing  to  memory  the  words  of  the  Holy  Scripture,  and 
to  join  with  great  devotion  in  the  exercises  of  daily  worship. 
How  they  will  bear  temptation,  when  once  more  thrown  into 
the  corrupting  company  of  the  baser  part  of  our  own  color, 
who  prowl  around  our  frontiers  to  destroy  them,  I  know  not. 
They  need  the  prayers  of  all,  that  God  would  convert  their 
hearts,  and  cause  their  morality  to  grow  on  the  only  legiti- 
mate stock,  true  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  In  a  direct 
line  it  is  fifteen  miles  from  the  Mohawk  dwellings  to  Mr. 
Woodward's,  to  whose  house  I  rode  after  preaching  to  the 
Indians,  and  by  whom  I  was  most  hospitably  entertained." 

[Then  follows  the  record  of  services  performed  during  a  period  of  twenty- 
seven  days,  in  another  part  of  the  diocese,  not  necessary  to  the  design  of  this 
memoir  to  be  inserted  here.] 

"  September  17.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Morse  having  prepared  all 
things  for  the  presentation  of  the  persons  for  confirmation,  and 
the  administration  of  the  holy  communion  in  Steubenville, 
went  to  Cross  creek,  and  there  officiated  on  the  18th;  while 
on  the  same  day,  in  Steubenville,  I  performed  morning  and 
evening  prayer,  preached  twice,  administered  the  communion 
to  about  sixty,  confirmed  thirty-two  persons,  and  baptized  one 
adult. 

"  September  19.  Rev.  J.  Armstrong  joined  me  at  Steuben- 
ville, and  accompanied  me  to  Cross  creek.  Here,  assisted  by 
my  two  reverend  brethren,  I  performed  the  holy  office  of  con- 
secrating St.  James'  church.     It  is  a  neat  wood  building,  envi- 

*  Joseph  Heron  has  not  forgotten  his  friend  and  teacher,  though  twenty  years  have 
elapsed.  Being  about  to  follow  the  fortunes  of  his  race  and  cross  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, in  the  spring  of  1847,  he  wrote  to  him  a  most  affectionate  farewell  letter. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  461 

roned  entirely  by  a  deep  oaken  forest.  And  when  I  saw  it 
crowded  and  surrounded  by  some  hundreds  of  immortal  souls, 
anxious  to  benefit  by  the  approaching  solemnities,  the  pleasure 
I  felt  seemed  a  full  reward  for  many  of  my  past  troubles.  I 
blessed  God  and  took  courage.  The  prayers  were  read  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Armstrong,  and  the  sermon  delivered  by  myself. 
Fifty  persons  were  confirmed,  and  seventy-three  received  the 
communion.  The  day  is  worthy  of  fond  remembrance,  for  it 
was  a  day  of  much  joy  and  comfort  in  the  Holy  Ghost.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Morse  and  myself  returned  the  same  day  to  Steuben- 

ville. 

"  September  20.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Morse  agreeing  to  fulfil  my 
appointments  in  Ohio  till  the  next  Sunday,  I  thought  it  my 
duty  to  pay  a  visit  to  the  owner  of  the  lands  in  Knox  county, 
which  had  struck  my  mind  so  forcibly  on  account  of  their 
healthy  and  central  situation,  and  other  excellences.  This 
gentleman  residing  in  Brownsville,  Pennsylvania,  the  whole 
of  four  days  was  necessarily  consumed  in  going  and  coming, 
(it  being  about  one  hundred  miles,)  and  in  transacting  the 
intended  business.  This  was  getting  from  Mr.  Hogg,  the 
owner  of  the  lands  alluded  to,  a  proposition  to  sell  them  at  a 
reduced  price,  as  a  site  for  our  seminary  and  college.  This 
was  accomplished  in  company  with  Bezaleel  Wells,  Esq.,  of 
Steubenville,  whose  kind  advice  and  assistance  in  this  busi- 
ness I  hereby  most  gratefully  acknowledge." 

[Then  follows  the  record  of  services  in  Wheeling,  St.  Clairsville,  Zanesville, 
&c,  until  October  4th,  when  the  Address  proceeds :  — ] 

"  October  4.  Was  again  in  the  parish  of  St.  Matthew's, 
Coshocton  county.  Here  I  again  visited  the  good  Mr.  Wil- 
son, and  with  him  performed  holy  offices,  and  baptized  his 
grandchild. 

"  Being  now  about  eleven  miles  from  the  lands  proposed  by 
Mr.  Hogg  as  the  site  of  our  future  seminary,  according  to 
previous  appointment  with  a  friend,  I  went  again  to  see  them ; 
and  on  a  reexamination,  found  them  to  exceed  my  former 
estimation  of  them.     This  was  done  on 

"October  5  — G,  in  company  with  Messrs.  Trimble,  Raw- 
den,  and  Melick. 

39* 


462  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

"  October  7 — 8.  I  returned  to  my  residence  in  Worthing- 
ton,  where,  and  at  Delaware,  Columbus,  and  Berkshire,  I 
continued  to  officiate,  till,  returning  from  the  latter  place,  after 
performing  divine  service  on  Sunday,  December  4th,  my  horse 
stumbled  and  threw  me  on  the  frozen  ground  with  great  vio- 
lence. By  the  effect  of  this  injury  on  my  hip  joint,  I  was 
confined  till  Christmas  Day,  when  I  officiated,  though  on 
crutches,  in  Worthington,  and  administered  the  Holy  Com- 
munion to  about  fifty. 

"  An  account  of  the  remainder  of  my  clerical  duties  will  be 
here  deferred,  till  I  shall  have  said  something  of  our  seminary, 
and  of  my  endeavors  to  fulfil  my  duties  in  relation  to  it. 

"  Having  obtained  the  means  to  complete  the  education  of 
young  men  for  the  reception  of  degrees  in  the  arts  and  sci- 
ences, it  seemed  no  more  than  reasonable  and  just,  that  the 
President  and  Professors,  by  whom  they  were  educated,  should 
have  the  power  of  conferring  these  degrees.  Accordingly  I 
thought  it  my  duty  to  petition  the  civil  government  for  such  a 
privilege :  and  I  am  most  happy  to  state  to  this  convention 
that  the  prayer  was  granted  with  unusual  unanimity  and 
cheerfulness.*  The  name  and  the  style  under  which  they  are 
empowered  to  confer  degrees,  is  that  of  '  The  President  and 
Professors  of  Kenyon  College,  in  the  State  of  Ohio,'  —  thus 
expressing  our  respect,  and  perpetuating  our  gratitude  to  one 
of  our  principal  benefactors,  in  England,  and  through  him  to 
all  in  that  country  who  have  done  us  good,  or  taken  an 
interest  in  our  welfare. 

"  Soon  after  the  commencement  of  the  session  of  Congress,  I 


*  An  Act,  supplementary  to  an  Act  entitled,  "  An  Act  to  incorporate  the  Theological 
Seminary  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  Diocese  of  Ohio." 

Sec.  1 .  Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  That  the  presi- 
dent and  professors  of  the  said  Seminary  shall  be  considered  as  the  faculty  of  a  Col- 
lege, and  as  such  have  the  power  of  conferring  degrees  in  the  arts  and  sciences,  and 
of  performing  all  such  other  acts  as  pertain  unto  the  Faculties  of  Colleges,  for  the 
encouragement  and  reward  of  learning  ;  and  the  name  and  style  by  which  the  said 
degrees  shall  be  conferred,  and  the  certificates  of  learning  given,  shall  be  that  of  the 
"  President  and  Professors  of  Kenyon  College  in  the  State  of  Ohio." 

WM.  W.  IRVIN, 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
ALLEN  TRIMBLE, 
January  24,  1826.  Speaker  of  the  Senate. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  463 

preferred  a  petition  to  our  national  legislature  for  the  remis- 
sion of  duties  on  donations  made  by  our  friends  in  England  to 
our  theological  seminary ;   but  hearing  that  it  was  likely  to 
meet  with  some  difficulty,  and  greatly  desirous  of  obtaining 
the  grant  of  some  lands  to  aid  our  endeavors  to  cherish  a  col- 
lege for  general  learning,  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  proceed  im- 
mediately to  Washington  city.     I  had  motives  also  for  leav- 
ing the  diocese.     They  were  those  arising  from  an  anxious 
desire  to  obtain  a  few  faithful  ministers  to  keep  our  Church 
alive  in  Ohio.     I  had  written  much  and  often ;  I  wished  to  see 
if  a  personal  interview  with  some  of  the  Atlantic  clergy  would 
not  effect  something.     In  trying  to  accomplish  these  several 
objects,  I  have  to  acknowledge  the  kindness  of  all  with  whom 
I  had  intercourse  in  our  national  district,  and  to  bless  God 
that  I  have  become  so  extensively  acquainted  with  the  wor- 
thies of  our  nation.     I  had  assurances  from  the  committee  of 
the  Senate  to  whom  my  petition  was  referred,  that  the  duties 
on   our   presents   from   England  would    be    remitted.      The 
petition  for  a  donation  of  lands  to  our  college  is  deferred  till 
another  year. 

"Our  hopes  of  obtaining  the  assistance  of  some  faithful 
ministers  to  aid  in  the  great  work  of  sustaining  the  Church  in 
Ohio,  are  not  lost.  God  grant  that  the  sympathetic  expres- 
sions which  everywhere  met  our  ear  from  our  dear  brethren 
at  the  east,  end  not  in  the  cold  comfort  of  words  only  ! 

"But  the  great  and  crowning  blessing  which,  by  God's 
mercy,  resulted  from  my  late  journey  to  the  east,  was  the 
reduction  made  by  Mr.  William  Hogg  in  the  price  of  his 
lands  in  Knox  county,  and  the  favorable  and  additional  extent 
in  the  time  of  payment.  The  price  agreed  on  last  summer 
was  the  original  cost  and  charges,  nearly  twenty-four  thou- 
sand dollars  for  eight  thousand  acres.  From  this  Mr.  Hogg, 
considering  the  magnitude  and  usefulness  of  the  object  to 
which  the  lands  were  to  be  applied,  most  munificently  agreed 
to  deduct  six  thousand  dollars,  putting  the  lands  at  two  dol- 
lars and  twenty-live  cents  per  acre,  though  they  are  of  the 
finest  quality,  and  rising  of  seven  hundred  acres  are  under 
cultivation.  This  quantity  is  from  actual  survey  and  meas- 
urement. 


464  bishop   chase's  reminiscences. 

"This  placed  Mr.  Hogg's  proposition  in  such  a  favorable 
point  of  view,  that  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  make  it  public  by 
a  circular  notice,  which,  with  the  advice  of  some  of  the  stand- 
ing committee,  I  issued  at  Portsmouth,  on  the  23d  March  last. 
The  object  of  this  circular  was,  to  give  all  an  opportunity  of 
examining  the  land,  and  of  coming,  as  I  trust  you  have  done, 
to  this  convention,  with  minds  prepared  to  give  a  righteous 
judgment.  Such  has  been  the  general  approbation  of  the 
plan,  and  such  the  just,  liberal  support*  with  which  it  has 
met,  that  we  all  have  great  reason  to  be  fervently  grateful,  for 
the  divine  blessing  which  has  attended  our  feeble  endeavors 
for  his  glory.  Mr.  Hogg's  proposition,  together  with  the  sub- 
scriptions in  aid  of  the  plan  it  embraces,  will  be  laid  before 
you. 

"  On  my  way  to  the  eastward,  I  preached  once  in  Granville 
and  Newark,  twice  in  Zanesville,  and  once  at  St.  Clairsville, 
in  Ohio.  Out  of  the  diocese,  four  times  in  Washington  city, 
thrice  in  Georgetown,  thrice  in  Alexandria,  in  the  District  of 
Columbia,  and  twice  in  Wheeling;  on  my  return,  I  again 
visited  Steubenville,  and  preached  twice.  Passing  down  the 
Ohio  river,  at  Marietta  I  officiated  four  times,  at  Portsmouth 
thrice,  baptized  five  children,  confirmed  five  persons,  and  ad- 
ministered, both  in  public  and  to  a  sick  person  in  private,  the 
Supper  of  the  Lord. 

"  Hearing  here  of  the  sickness  of  my  family,  I  hastened 
home,  where  I  arrived  on  the  last  day  of  March,  1826. 

u  Since  this  time,  God  has  enabled  me  to  do  duty  a  number 
of  Sundays  in  the  neighboring  parishes,  and  to  perform  a  jour- 
ney of  three  hundred  and  ten  miles,  through  the  counties  of 
Delaware,  Licking,  Coshocton,  Holmes,  Wayne,  Richland, 
and  Knox :  in  all  which  I  preached  and  performed  divine  ser- 
vice twenty-four  times,  and  baptized  twelve  children.  In  the 
town  of  Newark,  Licking  county,  I  organized,  according  to 
the  usages  of  the  Church,  and  the  statutes  of  the  state,  a  new 
parish,  by  the  name  of  the  '  Parish  of  Trinity  Church,  New- 
ark.'    And  while  I  mention  this,  it  may  not  be  irrelevant  to 

*  This  had  reference  to  the  subscriptions  obtained  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  semi- 
nary. 


$100  00 

100  00 

100  00 

100  00 

44  44 

bishop   chase's  reminiscences.  465 

state,  that  three  other  parishes  have  been  organized  during 
the  past  year :  St.  Luke's  church,  in  Marietta,  St.  John's,  in 
Springfield  township,  Jefferson  county,  and  St.  Mark's,  in 
Columbia,  Lorain  county;  St.  John's  effected  entirely  through 
the  instrumentality  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Morse,  St.  Luke's  through 
that  of  our  pious  and  excellent  lay-brother,  A.  Nye,  Esq.,  and 
St  Mark's  by  the  zealous  exertions  of  a  candidate  for  orders. 

"  Concerning  the  distribution  of  Lady  Rosse's  bounty,  for 
encouraging  the  immediate  erection  of  churches  in  small  par- 
ishes, I  state  that  I  have  promised  to 
St.  Peter's,  Delaware,  nearly  completed, 
St.  Matthew's,  Perry,  roofed  and  floored, 
St.  Mark's,  Mill  creek,  to  be  roofed  and  floored  the 

present  summer, 

Christ's  church,  Beaver,  commencing, 

St.  Peter's,  Morristown,      ------ 

$444  44 
"Of  the  fifty- two  Sundays  in  a  year,  nineteen  have  been 
spent  in  the  parishes  nearest  my  present  residence,  viz. : 
2  in  ministrations  at Berkshire. 

4  "  "  Columbus. 

5  "  "  __-.--      Delaware. 

8        "  "  Worthington. 

4  were  spent  out  of  the  diocese. 

2  on  a  bed  of  suffering. 

27  in  visiting  the  scattered  parishes;  though  as  yet  they 
have  not  all  been  visited,  particularly  those  in  the  north-west 
and  western  part  of  the  state. 

"In  Worthington  I  have  done  all  the  extra  duty  in  my  power, 
though  often  I  have  lamented  that  the  great  benefit  of  parochial 
visits  could  not,  under  the  great  pressure  of  my  extensive  cor- 
respondence, be  rendered  to  them.  If  the  few  moments  which 
I  have  enjoyed  at  home  have  been  dedicated  to  writing  by 
night,  and  by  day  to  the  cares  of  a  family  of  forty  in  number, 
and  to  overseeing  the  destinies  of  our  seminary  and  college, 
my  deficiencies  in  the  pleasing  work  of  parochial  and  social 
visitations  must  and  will  be  pardoned.  Let  those  who  make 
complaints  of  this  nature  spend  their  breath  rather  in  prayer. 


466  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

that  God  would,  into  his  almost  deserted  field,  send  forth  labor- 
ers able  as  well  as  willing  to  do  their  duty. 

"  During  the  last  year  I  have  baptized  -  -  -  63 
Confirmed  177,  and  omitted  in  last  year's  report  30,  207 
Administered  the  Holy  Communion,  (times)        -        -22 

tt  ij         •  j  u  j     ^  within  the  diocese,  144  )    1Krc 

Held  service  and  preached,  |  wi(hout  ^  dioces'e;  n  |    156 

The  number  of  miles  I  have  travelled,     )  2403 

including  my  journey  to  Washington,  ) 

"I  have  consecrated  one  church,  and  solemnized  several 
funerals  and  marriages.  In  discharge  of  all  which  duties,  I 
do  hereby  acknowledge  and  confess  my  own  unworthiness, 
and  would  proclaim,  if  I  had  language,  the  deep  sense  I  have 
of  the  directing  and  supporting  hand  of  our  almighty  and 
most  merciful  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ. 

"  To  this  crowded  summary  of  public  duty,  and  dry  account 
of  the  state  of  our  poor  Church,  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  I  have 
room  to  add  but  little  concerning  our  infant  seminary.  This 
continues  to  increase  in  friends  both  at  home  and  abroad. 
Having  been  placed,  as  it  was  designed  from  the  beginning, 
under  the  ultimate  control  of  the  House  of  Bishops  and  Gen- 
eral Convention,  no  danger  is  apprehended.  So  long  as  the 
fathers  of  our  church  walk  in  the  ways  of  truth  and  godliness, 
so  long  must  this  seminary  follow  in  their  steps.  In  this  light 
our  institution  is  viewed,  I  am  most  happy  to  state,  by  the 
father  of  our  present  House  of  Bishops,  the  venerable  Bishop 
White,  of  Philadelphia.  In  his  letter  to  me,  of  May  the  6th, 
he  is  pleased  to  speak  in  these  most  friendly  terms  :  —  lIt  grat- 
ifies me  to  find,  from  various  publications,  that  your  college  is 
in  successful  progress.  Unquestionably  our  source  of  supply 
of  ministers  for  the  ivestern  states  must  be  the  education  of 
natives  of  those  regions. 

" '  That,  under  the  blessing  of  Heaven,  your  exertions  towards 
this  work  may  be  effectual,  is  the  wish  and  prayer  of  your 
affectionate  brother,  Wm.  White. 


y 


"  I  have  thought  it  my  duty  to  make  the  above  quotation, 
verbatim,  to  vindicate  the  character  of  this  venerable  prelate 
from  the  slander  which  some  have  sought  to  cast  upon  it  by 


bishop  chase's  reminiscences.  467 

representing  him  as  opposed  to  our  plans  for  the  establish- 
ment of  a  theological  seminary  and  college  in  Ohio. 

"  The  kindest  accounts  continue  to  reach  us  from  our  bene- 
factors in  England.  Though  the  late  commercial  embarrass- 
ments had  greatly  depressed  the  funds  held  for  us  in  the 
English  stocks,  yet  it  is  hoped  they  will  soon  recover  their 
former  price.  At  the  last  advices,  an  organ  for  our  chapel 
was  completed  and  ready  to  send  to  us.  A  friend  in  New 
York  had  advertised  me  of  the  arrival  in  that  city  of  a  box  of 
books,  in  addition  to  the  noble  presents  of  that  kind  which  we 
had  before  received  from  our  most  generous  friends  in  Eng- 
land. The  number  of  volumes  already  received  is  five  hun- 
dred and  forty-six,  which,  joined  to  my  own  library,  to  be 
given  at  my  decease  to  the  institution,  and  now  incorporated 
with  the  catalogue,  makes  the  whole  number  in  possession 
amount  to  twelve  hundred  and  fifty-seven  volumes  of  the 
choicest  kind. 

"  During  the  continuance  of  a  great  weight  of  care  heaped 
on  us  through  the  past  year,  and  the  uncertainty  where  the 
seminary  would  be  finally  '  located,'  I  have  not  found  it  in  my 
power,  nor  consistent  with  prudence,  to  set  up  the  printing 
press.  The  press,  the  plates  for  our  Prayer  Book,  and  the 
paper,  are  on  the  spot.  The  types  are  still  in  New  York  ;  the 
duties  being  high,  I  have  not  found  funds  to  pay  them.  It  will 
be  remembered  that  this  complete  and  ample  set  of  type,  to- 
gether with  one  hundred  pounds  sterling  to  purchase  a  printing 
press  in  this  country,  is  the  avails  of  a  most  munificent  subscrip- 
tion, separate  from  that  of  the  fund ;  which  subscription  was 
originated  and  circulated  among  the  ladies  of  the  nobility  and 
gentry  of  England  by  that  most  excellent  person,  Lady  Acland. 
of  Devonshire.  No  one  subscriber,  by  her  Ladyship's  plan, 
being  allowed  to  contribute  more  than  one  guinea,  the  interest 
excited  in  favor  of  our  endeavors  to  build  up  Christianity  and 
learning  here  in  the  west  of  America  was  thereby  more  gen- 
erally diffused;  and  most  happy  am  I  to  add,  that,  by  a  letter 
received  yesterday  from  my  very  worthy  and  most  esteemed 
friend,  (I.  W.  Marriott,  Esq.,  of  London,  it  appears  that  this 
fountain  of  benevolence  is  not  yet  dried  up.  In  his  letter 
dated  March  the  5th,  he  observes,  ■  There  is  a  surplus  of  per- 


468  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

haps  fifty  pounds  from  the  press  subscription.  This,  Sir 
Thomas  Acland  begs  me  to  dispose  of.  I  had  intended  it  for 
Lord  Gambier's  subscription  towards  purchasing  the  land 
adjoining  Mrs.  Reed's  gift.  Do  you  wish  it  for  that  in  Knox 
county  1 ' 

"  Two  small  buildings  (very  temporary  in  their  nature) 
were  erected  at  my  own  expense ;  which,  together  with  my 
own  dwelling  and  farm-house,  we  thought  would  accommo- 
date all  the  students  that  would  offer  this  year.  But  we 
have  found  it  otherwise.  Our  present  number  is  thirty  ;  and 
had  we  buildings  and  other  means  to  enlarge  our  establish- 
ment, that  number  would  soon  be  doubled  many  times.  Our 
prices  have  been  for  each  year  or  forty  weeks'  term  — 

For  boarding  and  contingent  expenses  of  candi- 
dates for  orders, $50  00 

For  do.  of  collegians, 70  00 

For  do.  of  grammar-school  pupils,    -        -        -  60  00 

"The  above  includes  all  expenses  except  stationery,  books 
and  clothing.  Candidates  for  orders  pay  no  tuition.  We 
glory  in  these  reduced  prices;  and  though  it  is  evidently 
necessary  that  the  boarding  department  be  made  to  defray  its 
own  expenses,  yet  conscientiously  looking  to  the  good  of  the 
public,  especially  of  those  worthy  young  men  who  are  desti- 
tute of  obtaining  advanced  learning,  the  very  nature  of  our 
plan,  of  having  our  institution  in  the  country,  surrounded  by 
our  own  domain,  abounding  in  every  necessary  of  life,  gives 
us  reason  to  expect  that  these  prices  can  always  be  kept  at 
their  present  unexampled  and  almost  incredibly  reduced  rate. 

"You  will  be  aware  from  the  above  statement,  that  we 
have  hitherto  proceeded  on  the  ground  that  a  college*  for  gen- 
eral learning  would  be  annexed  to  the  theological  seminary; 
not  that  the  latter  would  take  from  the  privileges  of  the  former; 
on  the  contrary ',  it  is  believed  that  they  can  be  of  most  impor~ 
tant  mutual  assistance. 

"  Much  of  the  field  of  art  and  science  is  open  alike  to  the 
physician,  civilian  and  divine.     What  one  studies  the  others 

*  These  passages  in  the  address  are  emphasized  in  order  that  the  reader  may  note 
that  the  ground  afterwards  taken  by  the  writer  was  that  on  which  he  stood  from  the 
beginning. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  469 

must  not  neglect.  The  knowledge  of  the  languages,  philos- 
ophy and  belles-lettres,  is  necessary  to  all ;  and  in  the  attain- 
ment of  this,  the  ability  and  number  of  the  professors  and 
teachers,  the  quality  and  extent  of  the  libraries,  and  the  use- 
fulness and  value  of  an  astronomical  and  philosophical  appa- 
ratus, may  be  greatly  enlarged,  for  the  benefit  of  each,  by  a 
junction  of  the  funds  of  both. 

"It  was,  therefore,  to  promote,  not  to  impede,  the  original 
design  of  our  institution,  that  I  have  endeavored  to  annex  a 
college  of  general  science  to  our  seminary,  and  to  open  our 
door  to  students  designed  eventually  for  all  the  learned  pro- 
fessions. That  I  have  been  actuated  by  a  wish  to  be  of  ser- 
vice to  my  country,  without  regard  to  denomination  in  religion, 
I  will  not  deny.  Where  no  principle  or  rule  of  conscience  is 
compromised,  I  deem  it  my  duty,  and  I  hope  I  may  find  it  my 
pleasure,  to  be  as  extensively  useful  to  all  denominations  of 
Christians  as  possible. 

"  But  here  it  must  be  noted,  that  in  joining  a  college  to  the 
seminary  it  is  an  indispensable  condition  that  our  funds 
increase  in  proportion  to  the  magnitude  of  the  design.  To 
open  our  institution  to  the  public  without  an  equivalent  —  I 
mean  an  estate  or  property  equal  at  least  to  the  fund  collected 
in  England  —  would  be  as  unreasonable  as  unjust.  That  this 
estate  —  this  additional  fund,  worthy  of  the  high  destination 
of  our  seminary  —  might  be  at  your  acceptance  and  disposal  in 
the  very  act  of  fixing  the  site  of  this  interesting  institution,  has 
formed  a  principal  feature  of  my  last  year's  duty.  It  is  pre- 
sented to  you  in  the  proposition  of  Mr.  William  Hogg,  of 
Brownsville,  to  sell  to  us,  at  a  reduced  price,  eight  thousand 
acres  of  land  in  Knox  county,  on  which  to  fix  both  the  semi- 
nary and  college.  The  sale  of  one  half  of  this  tract,  joined 
with  the  subscriptions  already  attained,  and  yet  expected,  will 
more  than  pay  for  the  whole.  The  remaining  four  thousand 
acres,  with  the  seminary  thereon,  valuable  as  it  is  in  itself, 
must  and  will  constitute  an  equivalent,  if  not  far  exceed  ID 
value  the  whole  collections  from  abroad. 

Here  is  a  foundation  on  which  to  erect  an  edifice  worthy 
of  the  kind  expectation  of  our  esteemed  benefactors.  On  this 
we  can  build,  and  expect  the  further  assistance  of  a  sympa- 

•10 


470  bishop  chase's   reminiscences* 

thizing  world ;  on  this  we  can  build,  and  justly  expect  the 
patronage  of  our  civil  government.  And  here  I  think  it  my 
duty  to  add  that  anything  less  than  this  would  be  to  degrade, 
not  to  improve,  our  present  blessings.  To  establish  our  semi- 
nary in  a  village,  with  no  more  accession  to  her  fund  than  a 
village  can  give,  and  yet  expect  that  she  will  open  her  door  to 
students  in  general  learning,  and  in  all  respects  maintain  the 
dignified  character  of  a  college,  is  an  attempt  to  reconcile 
inconsistencies  and  accomplish  that  which  is  impossible.  On 
the  truth  of  this  remark  it  is  that  I  have  refused  to  consent 
that  our  institution  be  established  in  the  village  of  Worthing- 
ton.  For  though,  in  so  doing,  my  own  estate  and  lots  in  that 
village  would  be  enhanced  in  usefulness  to  myself  twice  two- 
fold, compared  with  the  benefit  to  be  derived  from  it  at  a  dis- 
tance, yet  the  good  of  the  institution,  I  trust,  will  ever  prevail 
over  all  considerations  of  private  interest. 

"But  two  courses  are  before  us ;  either  to  confine  our  sem- 
inary to  theological  candidates  only,  or,  if  we  receive  students 
in  general  science,  to  lay  a  foundation  sufficiently  strong  and 
large  to  sustain  the  magnitude  of  the  college  which  must  be 
reared  to  do  those  students  justice.  In  the  former  case  nothing 
more  is  necessary  than  to  turn  your  attention  to  the  deed  of 
gift  of  my  own  estate,  executed  in  London,  on  the  twenty- 
seventh  of  November,  eighteen  hundred  and  twenty-three,  as 
the  basis  of  all  donations.  This,  both  myself  and  family  are 
willing  to  execute  and  carry  into  full  effect.  In  the  latter 
case,  the  only  thing  presented  worthy  of  your  attention  is  the 
proposed  lands  in  Knox  county.  Should  this  be  preferred,  I 
leave  my  peaceful  retreat,  and  the  trees  planted  and  engrafted 
by  my  own  hand,  and  unite  my  destiny  with  that  of  our  sem- 
inary and  college.  With  this  institution  of  religion  and  learn- 
ing, I  am  willing  to  rise  or  fall,  to  suffer  or  prosper.  If  God 
vouchsafe  to  bless,  who  shall  let  it  ?  if  he  shall  frown,  who 
shall  not  acquiesce  that  knows  his  wisdom? 

"Philander  Chase. 
"  June  7,  1826." 

To  the  above  address  succeeds,  among  others,  the  following 
resolution  and  acts  of  the  convention,  recorded  in  the  jour- 
nal. 


bishop  chase's  reminiscences.  471 

"  Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  five  persons  be  appointed 
to  take  into  consideration  that  part  of  the  Bishop's  address 
which  relates  to  propositions  for  the  location  of  the  seminary, 
and  report  thereon  to-morrow. 
'  "  Messrs.  Bezaleel  Wells,  John  Matthews,  William  Little, 
Zaccheus  Biggs,  and  Stephen  Sibley,  were  accordingly  ap- 
pointed. 

"  The  following  articles  were  unanimously  adopted  as  sub- 
stitutes for  the  fifth  and  tenth  articles  of  the  constitution  of  the 
Theological  Seminary  of  the  P.  E.  Church,  in  the  Diocese  of 
Ohio,  viz. :  — 

ARTICLE  5. 

"  The  seminary  shall  be  under  the  immediate  charge  and 
superintendence  of  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese,  for  the  time 
being,  as  President  of  the  institution. 

ARTICLE  10. 

"  This  constitution  may  be  amended  by  the  concurrent  vote 
of  the  Bishop,  a  majority  of  the  Board  of  the  Trustees  of  the 
seminary,  and  a  majority  of  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese, 
with  the  concurrence  of  a  majority  of  the  Bishops  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States. 

"Provided,  that  no  alteration  or  amendment  whatever  be 
made  in  this  constitution,  whereby  the  funds  of  the  seminary, 
raised  in  England,  shall  be  appropriated  to  any  (tther  use  than 
the  education  and  theological  instruction  of  students  for  the 
ministry  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  This  proviso, 
however,  does  not  preclude  the  lawfulness  and  constitution- 
ality of  annexing  a  college  to  the  seminary,  and  making  pro- 
vision, so  far  as  practicable,  for  the  admission  of  other  students, 
at  their  own  expense,  to  the  benefit  of  a  college  education." 


472  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 


CHAPTER    XL. 

HUMAN    NATURE    EXPOSED    IN   AN    ATTEMPT    TO    RAISE    SUBSCRIPTIONS 

IMPORTANT  DECLARATION    OF  THE    ENGLISH    TRUSTEES DOINGS 

OF    THE    CONVENTION    HELD    IN    COLUMBUS,    JUNE,    1826 REMARKS 

THEREON. 

In  the  foregoing  address,  allusion  is  made  to  a  journey  of 
three  hundred  and  ten  miles  in  the  counties  of  Delaware, 
Licking,  Coshocton,  Holmes,  Wayne,  Richland  and  Knox. 
It  may  be  asked,  why  mention  these  counties  then  in  connec- 
tion in  particular?  The  answer  is — Because  in  the  centre  of 
that  tract  of  country  was  contained  the  eight  thousand  acres 
of  land  on  which  the  location  of  the  seminary  was  proposed, 
and  at  that  time  there  was  no  other  principle  but  that  of  self- 
interest  to  which  he  could  appeal  for  assistance.  Such,  then, 
were  the  contracted  views  in  which  the  institution  was  re- 
garded, that  it  was  from  these  counties  thus  contiguous  to  its 
proposed  location  the  writer  had  almost  exclusively  any  reason 
to  hope  for  contributions  in  his  diocese.  However  clear  was 
the  evidence  that  an  institution  of  religion  and  learning  would, 
if  placed  anywhere  in  Ohio,  be  of  incalculable  service  to  the 
diocese  in  general,  yet  if  it  did  not  benefit  the  worldly  interest 
of  the  donors,  if  it  did  not  serve  to  raise  the  price  of  property. 
the  whole  project  had  no  charms.  Except  in  some  instances 
of  his  own  personal  friends  living  in  Steubenville,  and  a  few 
other  parts  of  his  diocese,  the  writer  had  no  hope  of  pecuniary 
assistance  but  in  applying  to  those  places  which  were  quite 
near  the  proposed  location  in  Knox  county.  All  others  were 
opposed  to  the  location,  and  of  course  to  the  seminary.  "  Place 
it  near  my  residence,  or  in  the  vicinity  of  my  property,  or  in 
or  near  the  town  or  village  that  I  inhabit,  and  I  will  give, 
liberally  give,  but  otherwise  not  a  cent  from  my  pocket 
shall  you  have."  This  was  the  general  language,  and  it 
seemed  wise  in  their  own  eyes  when  they  gravely  and  archly 
uttered  it. 

One  person,  the  writer  remembers,  when  applied  to  for  assist- 
ance to  the  plan  of  placing  the  seminary  in  Knox  county, 
gravely  asserted  it  was  too  far  away  from  him,  although  he 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  473 

himself  inhabited  no  better  place  than  in  the  woods  on  Whet- 
stone river,  not  far  from  the  southern  borders  of  Delaware 
county.  "None  but  a  madman,"  he  said,  "would  place  it 
away  up  there  I"  Thus  entrenching  himself  on  the  impreg- 
nable ground  of  his  own  contracted  thoughts,  leaving  you  the 
task  of  driving  him  from  it  at  your  own  leisure:  like  the 
conceited  schoolmaster  in  days  of  yore,  who  asserted  the  place 
where  he  lived  to  be  " the  centre  of  the  earth,  and  if  you  did 
not  believe  it  you  might  measure  it  yourself"  So  generally 
had  the  selfish  and  mercenary  spirit  spread  throughout  the 
borders  of  Ohio,  that  had  it  not  been  for  that  peculiar  charac- 
teristic of  Christ's  religion  by  which  the  writer  humbly  hopes, 
in  common  with  all  true  believers,  his  bosom  is  imbued — that 
distinguishing  feature  of  the  Saviour  by  which  he  sought  those 
who  sought  him  not,  by  which  his  Gospel  was  carried  to 
those  who  opposed  its  benevolent  and  disinterested  principles 
— his  poor  labors  to  benefit  man  would  have  been  withdrawn 
from  Ohio,  to  seek  a  soil  more  congenial.  But  the  principle 
alluded  to  prevented.  This  one  great  truth  seemed  written  by 
a  sunbeam,  to  direct  the  writer  in  the  path  of  duty.  If  the 
Son  of  God  had  stayed  in  heaven  till  he  was  duly  patronized 
here  on  earth,  the  world  would  have  had  no  Saviour.  Ante- 
cedent, pure  benevolence  guided  his  steps  to  seek  and  to  save ; 
and  why  should  not  his  followers  try  by  his  grace  to  walk  in 
his  steps'?  Never  did  the  writer  see  poor  human  nature  so 
exposed,  as  in  the  painful  task  of  getting  subscriptions  for  the 
theological  seminary  in  Ohio.  Not  only  those  who  were  at  a 
distance  opposed  it,  because  not  brought  nearer  to  them ;  but 
even  such  as  lived  in  adjacent  townships  refused  to  subscribe, 
because  the  road  to  the  seminary  might  turn  the  travel  from 
their  doors. 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter  which  the  writer  ad- 
dressed to  his  wife  will  illustrate  this  :  — 

"Sunbttnj,  April  18th,  1826. 
"My  Dear  Wife:  — 

"After  writing  you  the  letter  from  Delaware,  performing 
service  and  pre;ir,hmu;  twice  on  Sunday,  and  on  Monday  morn- 
ing writing  a  good  deal,  I  set  my  face  towards  B.     Just  before 

40* 


474  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

I  put  my  foot  into  the  stirrup,  I  espied  Major  Campbell,  whom 
I  persuaded  to  subscribe  to  the  Knox  county  plan,  two  hun- 
dred acres  of  land,  which,  lying  in  the  section  adjoining  east, 
I  consider  quite  valuable.  [This  promise,  however,  was  never 
fulfilled.]  As  a  set-off  to  this  piece  of  good  luck,  in  coming  to 
B.,  I  found  M.  P.  and  J.  P.  dead  set  against  the  Knox  county 
plan  as  such,  because  it  would  in  their  opinion  direct  the 
travelling  from  B.  to  S.,  and  thus  be  no  gain,  but  rather  injury, 
to  their  property  !  I  dined  with  these  gentlemen  at  Mr.  S.'s, 
and  told  them  that  such  selfish  withholding  (of  their  sub- 
stance) in  a  matter  of  so  great  consequence  would  be  marked 
on  the  page  of  history  by  a  stain  which  their  children  would 
blush  to  notice.     *     *     * 

" Mr.  Davis  travels  with  me,  and  is  very  good;  I  keep  him 
almost  constantly  copying  letters  and  papers  for  me  when  I 
stop.  By  the  time  we  return  he  will  be  quite  a  scribe.  I 
hope  all  things  go  on  well  at  home. 

"  May  God  bless  you  all,  so  prays 

"Your  faithful  and  affectionate  husband, 

"  Philander  Chase. 
"To  Mrs.  S.  M.  Chase,  ) 

Worthington,  Ohio."  ) 


LETTERS   FROM    LORD   KENYON  —  MEETING    OF   ENGLISH   TRUSTEES 

RESULTS    IN    AN    IMPORTANT    DECLARATION. 

The  next  letter  of  the  writer  to  his  wife  while  on  this  jour- 
ney to  solicit  subscriptions  through  the  counties  mentioned, 
which  has  not  been  destroyed  by  time  or  accident,  is  dated  at 
the  house  of  Thomas  M.  Thompson,  Esq.,  not  far  from  Gran- 
ville, on  the  24th  of  April,  1826.  But  before  giving  any 
extracts  from  it,  there  is  a  necessity  of  stating  that  while  in 
Worthington  the  writer  had  received,  some  time  before,  a  letter 
from  his  good  friend  Lord  Kenyon,  dated  at  Gredington,  Aug. 
29,  1825,  giving  the  writer  to  understand  that  his  old  "oppo- 
nent" had  been  in  Wales,  had  called  at  Gredington  on  his 
way  to  Liverpool,  and  left  a  written  proposition  to  be  laid 
before  the  English  Trustees  of  the  Ohio  fund  for  their  adop- 
tion, the  substance  of  which  was,  that  the  said  Trustees  should 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  475 

make  conditions  on  which  the  moneys  collected  for  Ohio  were 
to  be  transmitted.  His  Lordship's  letter  stated  that  he  should 
call  the  Trustees  together  and  communicate  to  them  the  said 
proposition,  and  await  their  united  action  on  the  same ;  for, 
in  whatever  they  did,  he  had  no  doubt  of  their  perfect  union. 
The  written  proposition,  having  been  copied  by  his  daughter, 
accompanied  his  Lordship's  letter,  and  the  contents  were  borne. 
in  memory  during  the  painful  journey  now  being  performed.  * 
The  writer  was  at  Mr.  Thompson's  when  another  letter, 
dated  October  1st,  1825,  having  been  received  from  England, 
was  forwarded  to  him.  It  contained  the  same  proposition 
acted  on  by  the  English  Trustees,  and  concerning  it  his  Lord- 
ship says : — 

"  I  now  enclose  with  pleasure  the  resolution  of  your  Trus- 
tees, which  I  have  received  this  evening.  We  all  entirely  con- 
cur in  opinion,  as  do  our  excellent  friends  and  coadjutors, 
G.  W.  Marriott,  Pratt  and  Wiggin,  with  us." 

The  record  of  the  meeting  of  the  Trustees  containing  the 

precise  proposition  of -,  and  their  resolution  thereon,  is  as 

follows  :  — 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  'Trustees  of  the  Fund  raised  in 
England  for  the  establishment  of  a  Theological  Seminary  in 
the  Diocese  of  Ohio,'  held  in  London  on  the  12th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1825,  present  Lord  Gambier,  Rev.  Dr.  Gaskin,  and  Mr. 
Henry  Hoaro,  attended  by  Mr.  Timothy  Wiggin  and  the  Rev. 
Josiah  Pratt, 

"  A  suggestion  was  offered  through  the  remaining  Trustee, 
Lord  Kenyon,  (accompanied  with  expressions  of  his  entire 
confidence  in  Bishop  Chase  and  his  coadjutors,)  to  the  follow- 
ing purport  :  — 

"'The  Constitution  of  the  Theological  Seminary  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  State  of  Ohio  enacts  cer- 
tain provisions  which  are  understood  to  be  the  basis  on  which 
funds  were  collected  for  that  seminary  in  England. 

"'The  last  article,  of  the  Constitution  enacts  that  the  said 
Constitution  may  he  altered  by  the  Hishop,  the  Trusters  and 
the  Convention,  or  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  two  latter 


476  BISHOP  chase's   reminiscences. 

without  the  Bishop.  It  follows  that  the  articles  containing 
the  provisions  above  referred  to  may  be  thus  altered.  This 
contingency,  not  likely  indeed  soon  to  happen,  but  which  may 
happen,  can  be  guarded  against  on  the  present  organization  of 
the  seminary  only  by  the  Trustees  of  the  fimd  in  England 
executing  a  deed  of  gift  of  the  funds  in  which  these  provisions 
are  stipulated  as  the  conditions  on  which  the  funds  are  to  be 
<held ;  and  in  case  of  the  violation  of  these  conditions,  empow- 
ering some  corporate  body,  as  for  example  the  Bishops  of 
other  dioceses,  as  a  committee  of  the  General  Theological 
Seminary,  to  institute  legal  measures  for  the  obtaining  of  these 
funds  to  be  appropriated  for  such  purposes  of  the  Church  as 
they  may  direct.' 

"The  subject  having  been  taken  into  consideration,  it  was 
unanimously 

"  Resolved,  That  it  appears  that  the  Trustees  have  no 
power  to  annex  any  conditions  to  the  payment  of  the  money 
raised  in  this  country,  when  it  shall  be  drawn  for  by  the 
proper  authorities  in  Ohio,  being  satisfied  as  they  are  that  the 
constitution  of  the  seminary  established  by  the  convention  of 
Ohio  is  conformable  to  the  views  and  wishes  of  the  benefactors 
to  the  seminary. 

"It  appears,  however,  desirable  to  recommend  to  the  con- 
vention of  the  Diocese  of  Ohio  to  add  the  following  words,  or 
words  to  the  same  effect,  to  the  tenth  article  of  the  constitution 
of  the  seminary. 

u  t  provided  that  no  amendment  or  alteration  whatever  be 
made  in  this  constitution  without  a  concurrence  of  the  major- 
ity of  the  Bishops  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
United  States.' 

"  Examined  and  approved  by  us, 

"  Kenyon, 

GrAlVTBIER 

{Autograph  Signatures.)     „  Geq   q^ 

"Henry  Hoare." 

The  importance  of  the  above  recited  instrument,  and  its 
worthiness  to  be  inserted  on  the  pages  of  this  memoir,  will 
appear  by  noting  the  following  particulars  :  — 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  477 

1st.  It  gave  occasion  to  alter  the  10th  article  of  the  constitu- 
tion of  the  seminary — an  article  drawn  up  by  Charles  Ham- 
mond, but  never  thought  of  without  regret  by  the  writer.  This 
alteration  was  effected  according  to  the  above  expressed  recom- 
mendation of  the  English  Trustees. 

2d.  This  application  to  Lord  Kenyon,  and  through  him  to 
the  English  Trustees,  to  trammel  the  transmission  of  English 
benefaction  to  Ohio,  however  gratuitous  and  sinister  in  itself, 
did  nevertheless  procure  a  declaration  of  the  binding  nature  of 
common  law  recognizing  the  grand  principle  of  all  eleemosy- 
nary institutions,  (viz.,)  that  the  will  of  the  donor  is  para- 
mount. "  We  have  no  power,"  say  they,  "to  annex  conditions. 
The  will  of  the  donors  who  placed  the  money  in  our  hands  is 
all  the  condition  which,  as  honorable  men,  we  can  acknowl- 
edge, and  what  governs  us  as  agents  should  govern  all  others. 
The  statement  is  not  correct  that  the  recipients  of  the  donations 
in  America  can  by  their  c  enactments '  set  forth  what  is  or  is 
not  the  basis  on  which  funds  were  collected  in  England.  That 
basis  is  already  made  known  in  Bishop  Chase's  letter  to 
Bishop  White,  in  the  Appeal  which  was  chiefly  selected  from 
it,  and  in  a  deed  of  gift  executed  by  the  Bishop  of  Ohio  to  Lord 
Gambier,  for  the  seminary  in  his  own  diocese ;  and  how  can 
we  originate  'a  deed  of  giff  of  that  which  is  already  given? 
and  how  in  this  deed  frame  new  principles  unknown  to  the 
donors?      We  have  no poiver  to  annex  conditions" 

Thus,  by  this  extraordinary  effort,  this  last  and  dying  grasp 
at  power  to  control  the  Ohio  funds,  was  developed  one  of  the 
first  and  greatest  principles  by  which  those  funds  could  be, 
and,  the  writer  hopes,  will  be,  kept  and  directed  to  this  true 
intent  forever. 

But  to  return  to  the  letter  of  the  writer  to  his  wife,  dated 

11  At  the  house  of  Mr.  Thomas  M.  Thompson,  ) 

April  24,  1826.      \ 

"My  Dear  Wife:  — 

"  Ten  thousand  thanks  to  you  for  the  packet  of  English 

letters !     How  cheering  is  this  in  the  wild  wood !  especially 

how  comforting  to  receive  such  tidings  of  peace  amidst  the 

discordant  yet  never-ceasingly  painful  notes  of  the  screech- 


478  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

owls  of  selfishness  !  The  resolution  of  the  board  of  Trustees 
is  precisely  such  as  I  wished  and  expected  it  to  be.  I  had 
written  a  piece  to  be  inserted  in  the  public  prints,  of  precisely 
the  same  character,  and  had  it  in  my  pocket  when  I  received 
the  English  Trustees'  resolution. 

"  The  piece  is  under  the  title  of  '  A  letter  to  a  friend  in  Knox 
county,  dated  22d  April,  1826.'  This  I  wish  you  to  remem- 
ber, as  it  shows  the  exact  coincidence  of  the  opinion  of  the 
friends  with  my  own  endeavors. 

"  There  loill  be  no  college  for  all  p?*ofessions  if  Knox  county 
plan  fail]  no  other  can  give  any  adequate  encouragement. 
This  being  settled,  it  behooves  every  benevolent  person  to 
strive  that  the  features  of  this  plan  are  not  marred  and  defaced 
by  the  daubings  of  the  hands  of  the  sectarian  and  sectional 
policy.  If  I  fail,  it  will  not  be  for  want  of  sincere  endeavors 
on  my  part,  and  the  public  will  have  reason  to  sit  in  the  sack- 
cloth of  contention  and  shame.  If  I  succeed,  it  will  be  the 
triumph  of  light  over  darkness,  and  the  good  of  the  commu- 
nity at  large  over  a  spirit  of  mean  selfishness,  too  unworthy  to 
name. 

"  Do  search  and  look  up  everything  that  you  think  can 
relate  to  my  address  at  the  convention.  I  want  every  paper 
and  word  relating  to  that  subject  to  be  laid  before  me  in  the 
best  order  for  immediate  use  during  the  few  moments  between 
my  arrival  at  home  from  Mt.  Vernon  and  the  time  I  shall  set 
off  for  Columbus.  I  shall  not  have  a  second  to  lose.  I  shall 
be  home,  if  God  permit,  on  Monday  evening,  and  must  spend 
every  moment  writing.  My  journal  comes  on  but  poorly ;  I 
have  had  but  a  few  minutes'  leisure  to  devote  to  it.  The  sub- 
scription comes  on  better  than  I  had  reason,  from  the  cloudy 
atmosphere  at  Berkshire,  to  expect.*  About  fifteen  hundred 
dollars  cash  I  think  is  secure,  and  perhaps  more  than  that 
given  in  labor,  produce,  and  materials.  Mr.  Davis  went  to 
Mt.  Yernon,  and  thence  to  Newark,  to  go  to  church  yesterday. 
A  regular  parish  is  incorporated  in  N.,  and  yesterday  divine 
service  and  sermon  there.  Evening,  early  candle-light,  I 
preached  in  Granville.     This  morning  rode  to  breakfast  to 

*  But  partially  realized. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  479 

Mr.  Thompson's;  I  set  off  immediately  for  Mt.  Vernon.  May- 
God  ever  bless  you  !  Direct  to  me,  care  of  Mr.  Norton,  of  that 
place,  and  remember  that  I  desire  your  constant  prayers,  and 
am  yours,  P.  Chase." 

The  following  resolutions  passed  at  the  convention  of  June, 
1826,  in  Columbus,  seem  proper  to  be  here  inserted  :  — 

tlJune$tk,  1826. 

"  Convention  met  according  to  adjournment. 

"  The  committee  on  the  location  of  the  seminary  made  the 
following  report,  which  was  accepted :  — 

"'The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  that  part  of  the 
Bishop's  address  which  respects  the  site  of  the  Theological 
Seminary  and  Kenyon  College,  beg  leave  to  report,  that  they 
have  had  the  subject  under  consideration,  and  satisfactorily 
ascertained,  from  the  information  received  from  others,  and 
from  the  actual  knowledge  of  the  committee,  that  the  lands  in 
Knox  county,  conditionally  purchased  by  the  Bishop  from 
William  Hogg,  of  Brownsville,  Pennsylvania,  afford  an  eligi- 
ble site  for  the  seminary  and  college,  and  combine  advantages 
of  greater  magnitude  than  any  offer  that  has  been  made,  being 
situated  near  the  centre  of  the  diocese,  in  a  healthy  part  of 
the  country,  which  is  rapidly  improving — the  land  watered 
with  good  springs  and  permanent  streams,  affording  valuable 
mill-seats,  well  timbered,  very  fertile,  abounding  in  stone  and 
all  the  materials  necessary  for  building.  The  committee 
further  ascertain  that  the  contract  with  Mr.  Hogg  is  made  on 
very  favorable  terms,  particularly  as  to  price ;  leaving  it  pos- 
sible to  save  the  lands  wanted  for  the  site  from  the  proceeds 
of  the  sale  of  the  remainder.  The  committee  further  report 
that  a  very  considerable  amount  in  money,  lands,  materials  for 
building,  and  labor,  has  been  subscribed,  to  be  applied  to  the 
payment  of  the  land  and  in  erecting  the  necessary  buildings, 
on  condition  that  the  seminary  and  college  be  established 
thereon.  Therefore,  in  full  view  of  all  these  advantages,  with 
gratitude  to  God,  that  he  lias  so  signally  helped  us  thus  far, 
and  with  ardent  prayers  for  the  continuance  of  his  blessing, 


480  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

the  committee  recommend  that  the  following  resolutions  be 
adopted :  — 

"  'Resolved,  That  this  convention  do  approve  of  the  con- 
ditional contract  made  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  P.  Chase,  Bishop  of 
the  Diocese  of  Ohio,  with  Wm.  Hogg,  of  Brownsville,  Penn- 
sylvania, for  section  1,  in  township  6,  and  section  4,  in  town- 
ship 7,  and  the  12th  range  of  United  States  military  land, 
containing  each  four  thousand  acres,  —  and  be  it  further 

"  l Resolved,  That  the  Theological  Seminary  of  the  Diocese 
of  Ohio  and  Kenyon  College  be,  and  the  same  hereby  is,  for- 
ever established  on  such  part  of  section  1,  in  township  6,  in 
range  12  of  the  United  States  military  land,  as  may  be  selected 
by  the  Trustees  of  said  seminary  and  college. 

"  'Resolved,  That  it  be  considered  the  duty  of  every  clergy- 
man, on  or  about  the  first  Sunday  after  Easter,  to  preach  a 
sermon  in  the  parish  or  parishes  in  which  he  officiates,  on  the 
importance  of  supporting  the  Episcopate ;  after  which,  there 
shall  be  a  collection  made  and  forwarded  to  this  convention. 
And  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  wardens  of  any  parish,  having 
no  clergyman,  to  make  said  collections,  and  dispose  of  the 
avails  in  the  same  way. 

"  'Resolved  unanimously,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  every  dele- 
gate, and  every  member  of  the  Church,  as  he  values  our  holy 
religion,  and  of  every  liberal-minded  citizen,  as  he  regards  the 
interests  of  science,  to  promote,  by  all  means  in  his  power, 
subscriptions  for  the  payment  of  the  seminary  lands  in  Knox 
county. 

"  'Resolved,  That  the  next  convention  of  this  diocese  meet 
on  the  first  Wednesday  of  September,  1827,  in  Mount  Yernon, 
Knox  county.' 

"  The  Bishop  then  congratulated  the  members  of  the  con- 
vention on  the  unanimity  and  harmony  of  their  proceedings, 
particularly  in  settling  the  great  question  of  the  location  of  the 
seminary  and  college :  and  attributing  so  great  a  mercy  solely 
to  the  overruling  hand  of  God,  and  the  special  influences  of 
his  Holy  Spirit,  he  desired  the  convention  to  join  with  him  in 
the  devout  use  of  the  '  Te  Deum  laudamus1  and  other  forms 
of  devotion.  Which  having  been  done,  and  the  Episcopal 
blessing  pronounced,  the  convention  adjourned  sine  die." 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  481 

Snrnrnary  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the 
Theological  Seminary  and  Kenyon  College. 

"  The  Bishop's  accounts  were  examined  and  approved,  and 
all  his  proceedings  during  the  past  year,  in  relation  to  the 
seminary,  met  the  approbation  of  the  Board. 

"  Two  professorships  were  created;  the  one  of  Languages, 
the  other  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy ;  the  former 
is  filled. 

"  The  Bishop,  the  Hon.  H.  Clay,  and  B.  Wells,  Esq.,  are 
a  committee  authorized  to  have  the  seminary's  funds  trans- 
ferred from  England  so  soon  as  the  state  of  the  money  market 
may  render  it  advisable. 

"  The  Bishop  is  authorized  to  make  all  necessary  improve- 
ments of  the  seminary  lands,  and  to  obtain  a  loan  of  money 
for  this  purpose. 

"Authority  is  also  given  to  the  Bishop  and  B.  Wells,  Esq., 
as  a  committee  of  the  Board,  to  memorialize  Congress  for  a 
remission  of  the  duties  upon  the  donations  from  England  and 
other  favors,  and  the  Ohio  legislature  for  such  aid  as  they 
may  please  to  grant  the  college. 

"  The  amendments  of  the  fifth  and  tenth  articles  of  the  con- 
stitution of  the  seminary,  adopted  by  the  convention  just  risen, 
received  the  sanction  of  the  Trustees." 

It  appears  from  the  foregoing  extracts  that  the  Bishop  was 
authorized  to  obtain  a  loan  of  money  for  the  carrying  on  the 
plan  of  the  seminary.  From  this  it  will  be  naturally  inferred, 
that  the  institution,  aside  from  his  personal  credit,  had  cre- 
dence abroad  so  as  to  induce  the  minds  of  men  and  moneyed 
institutions  to  lend  their  assistance.  This  was  so  far  from 
being  the  case,  that,  on  trial,  not  a  dollar  could  be  obtained  in 
this  way.  The  Bishop  was  blamed  by  each  portion  of  the 
diocese,  because  he  did  not  locate  the  seminary  in  the  place 
and  town  or  village  which  each  had  respectively  selected. 

This  rendered  the  institution  unpopular.  He  therefore  was 
driven  to  rely  on  his  own  credit,  and  get  on  in  his  own  way. 

That  the  diocese  in  general  had  given  him  no  assistance, 
appears  from  their  having  paid  no  attention  to  the  resolution, 

41 


482  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

quoted  as  above  from  the  minutes  of  the  convention,  which 
says,  "there  shall  be  a  collection  made"  for  the  support  of  the 
Episcopate.  The  writer  does  not  remember  to  have  received 
anything  as  the  result  of  this  resolution. 

Had  it  respected  the  acknowledged  duties  of  the  Bishop, 
and  had  he  entirely  neglected  to  comply  with  its  specifications, 
would  that  neglect  have  been  passed  over  in  silence  ?  Indi- 
vidual responsibility  is  great — that  of  bodies  of  men  often  a 
mere  cipher. 


CHAPTER    XLI. 

TAKES    POSSESSION  OF   THE   COLLEGE   LANDS A  TEMPERANCE   RESO- 
LUTION   MADE    ON  A   RELIGIOUS    PRINCIPLE DESCRIPTION    OF    THE 

COLLEGE    SITE,    IN    ITS    NATURAL    WILDNESS THE    FIRST    LETTER 

WRITTEN    THERE A    SUNDAY-SCHOOL   IN    THE    OPEN    AIR. 

The  greatness  of  the  plan,  of  placing  a  seminary  on  its  own 
domain  of  eight  thousand  acres  of  land  in  Knox  county,  had 
for  a  time  silenced  the  objections  to  a  country  location.  Long 
before  the  meeting  of  the  convention  in  Columbus,  the  offer  of 
Mr.  Hogg's  land  had  been  published,  and  the  mind  of  the  dio- 
cese in  general  was  induced  to  think  favorably  of  the  plan, 
so  that  it  was  plainly  to  be  seen  that  the  measure  of  placing 
the  seminary  in  Knox  county  would  prevail.  Those  who 
contended  for  fixing  it  near  a  city  did  not  make  their  appear- 
ance at  the  convention.  But  their  minds  were  not  quieted  on 
the  subject.  They  retained  their  objections  in  full  vigor. 
They  resigned  their  seats  in  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  pre- 
dicted the  ruin  of  the  institution  if  placed  on  Owl  creek, 
[Yernon  river.]  They  maintained  the  incompetency  of  the 
founder  to  erect  so  great  an  establishment  "from  the  stump" 
in  the  woods,  and  that  it  would  be  next  to  madness  to  try  to 
sustain  him  in  his  project.  Under  these  circumstances,  the 
writer  went  to  take  possession  of  the  land  thus  destined  to  be 
for  the  rise  or  fall  of  himself  and  his  beloved  diocese. 

Mr.  Douglass,  his  hired  man,  and  his  little  son  Dudley,  were 
the  only  persons  who  went  from  Worthington  to  the  promised 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  483 

land,  on  this  lonely  journey.  And  must  it  be  called  16nely  ? 
Nay !  he  felt  it  otherwise.  He  experienced  a  consciousness 
of  Divine  aid  in  commencing  this  great  work,  which  convinced 
him  he  was  not  alone.  God  was  with  him,  and  though,  like 
Jacob,  he  should  have  nothing  but  the  ground  to  rest  on, 
and  a  stone  for  his  pillow,  he  trusted  that  God's  presence 
would  be  his  support.  But  His  spirit  doth  not  support  idle 
fancies. 

Fresh  at  this  time  are  the  momentous  thoughts  and  anxious 
cares  which  then  occupied  the  writer's  mind.  The  work  to  be 
undertaken,  in  its  very  beginning,  must  needs  employ  hands, 
and  before  it  was  done,  some  thousands  would  be  the  better 
or  worse,  according  to  the  means  and  measures,  good  or 
bad,  chosen  to  accomplish  it.  These  reflections  had  special 
reference  to  ardent  spirits,  the  free  use  of  which,  among 
workmen  collected  together  in  great  numbers,  he  had  often 
seen  attended  with  very  great  evils.  In  many  instances  he 
had  witnessed,  that  to  mitigate  the  evils  of  this  practice 
by  any  partial  restraints  was  laboring  in  vain.  A  little  use 
of  drink  would  soon  lead  to  greater,  and  the  power  of  con- 
trol would  grow  less  and  less  as  the  drops  in  the  glass  in- 
creased. To  begin,  therefore,  the  use  of  ardent  spirits  in 
"moderation"  was  but  the  beginning  of  the  road  to  ruin. 
The  hands,  if  permitted  to  ask  what  they  deemed  a  reason- 
able quantity,  would  soon  become  unreasonable  in  their 
demands,  and  if  not  indulged  on  the  hill,  would  procure  liquor 
themselves  elsewhere.  Rude  behavior,  neglect  of  duty,  pro- 
fane language,  quarrelling  with  each  other,  injuries  to  their 
families  at  home,  and  in  the  rearing  of  large  and  elevated 
buildings  some  fatal  accidents,  would  most  likely  follow,  as 
the  legitimate  consequence  of  the  use  of  ardent  spirits.  And 
then  the  solemn  question  occurred,  who  would  be  answerable 
to  God  for  the  commission  of  all  this  sin,  if  he  who  had  it  in 
his  power  did  not  bear  a  large  share  in  preventing  it  ?  An 
immediate  resolution  was  formed  for  a  total  prohibition  of 
ardent  spirits  on  the  college  hill;  and  when  the  writer  stepped 
across  the  boundary  line  of  the  college  lands,  a  prayer  was 
offered  that  God  would  help  him  to  perform  the  vow.  This 
measure  at  that  time  was  thought  rash  and  unadvised  —  it 


484  bishop   chase's    reminiscences. 

was  an  unheard-of  thing:  what  buildings  in  America  had 
been  erected  without  the  use  of  liquors  1  It  was  impractica- 
ble, and  infringed  upon  the  unalienable  rights  and  liberties  of 
others.  Who  in  this  land  of  liberty  would  be  subject  to  such 
bondage  as  this?  All  men  of  spirit  would  revolt  against  it, 
and  consider  the  Bishop  who  had  made  such  a  rule  for  free- 
men to  work  by,  to  be  a  self-deluded  tyrant. 

Now,  gentle  reader,  be  it  known  unto  thee,  this  is  no  fancied 
resistance  which  this  measure  met  with ;  it  took  place  in  all 
its  disgusting  reality,  and  among  the  disaffected  party  was 
counted  good  and  solid  reasoning.  They  argued  from  it  the 
incompetency  of  the  writer  to  carry  on  so  great  a  work,  even 
if  it  should  begin  to  show  itself  above  ground.  He  did  not 
sufficiently  understand  human  nature,  and  had  not  appreci- 
ated the  liberties  of  his  country. 

What  the  writer  named,  after  his  noble  and  beloved  friend, 
Gambier  Hill,  or  Gambier  Village,  is  a  place  nearly  in  the 
centre  of  the  south  section  (four  thousand  acres)  of  land  pur- 
chased, as  before  stated,  of  William  Hogg.  It  is  elevated 
more  than  one  hundred  feet  above  the  surrounding  country, 
and  commands  a  view  of  the  stream  once  called  "  Owl  creek.' ' 
now  "  Vernon  river,"  as  it  enters  the  domain  in  the  north- 
western quarter  of  the  second  military  section,  and  as  it  pur- 
sues its  winding  way  to  the  southward,  and  then  turns  like 
an  ox-bow,  and  comes  back  and  rims  north-east,  till  it  leaves 
the  college  lands,  and  is  lost  in  the  winding  valley. 

The  whole  surface  of  the  hill  was  then  a  windfall,  being  a 
great  part  of  it  covered  with  fallen  and  upturned  trees,  between 
and  over  which  had  come  up  a  second  growth  of  thick  trees 
and  bushes.  It  was  on  such  a  place  as  this  (proverbially 
impervious  even  to  the  hunters  after  wolves,  which  made  it 
their  covert)  that  the  writer  pitched  his  tent,  if  such  it  might 
be  called.  On  the  south  end  or  promontory  of  this  hill  (near  to 
which,  below,  ran  the  road  used  by  the  first  settlers)  grew 
some  tall  oak  trees,  which  evidently  had  escaped  the  hurri- 
canes in  days  of  yore.  Under  the  shelter  of  these,  some 
boards  in  a  light  wagon  were  taken  nearly  to  the  top  of  the 
hill;  there  they  were  dropped,  and  it  was  with  these  the 
writer's  house  was  built,  after  the  brush  was  with  great  diffi- 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  485 

culty  cleared  away.  Two  crotched  sticks  were  driven  into 
the  ground,  and  on  them  a  transverse  pole  was  placed,  and  on 
this  pole  was  placed  the  boards,  inclining  to  the  ground  each 
way.  The  ends,  or  gables,  to  this  room,  or  roof  shelter,  were 
but  slightly  closed  by  some  clap-boards  rived  on  the  spot  from 
a  fallen  oak  tree.  The  beds  to  sleep  on  were  thrown  on  bun- 
dles of  straw,  kept  up  from  the  damp  ground  by  a  kind  of 
temporary  platform,  resting  on  stakes  driven  deeply  into  the 
earth.  This  was  the  first  habitation  on  Gambier  hill,  and  it 
stood  very  nearly  on  the  site  where  now  rises  the  noble  edifice 
of  Kenyon  college. 

It  is  said,  by  those  not  intimately  acquainted  with  the  facts 
and  the  nature  of  things,  that  the  writer  might  have  avoided 
the  difficulties  and  exposures  here  described,  by  residing  in  the 
nearest  village,  or  even  by  taking  shelter  for  a  time  in  the 
little  log  cabins  already  erected  on  the  premises,  from  one  to 
two  miles  off.  Alas !  if  such  had  been  his  course,  no  begin- 
ning would  have  been  made  to  the  great  work.  He  wanted 
money  to  pay  a  resolute  person  to  go  forward  in  a  work  like 
this,  if  such  could  be  found ;  he  wanted  money  to  pay  for  his 
own  board  in  a  village  four  miles  off;  he  wanted  money  to  hire 
even  his  common  hands  and  teams ;  those  he  used  here  being 
the  hands  and  wagons  usually  employed  on  his  own  farm  at 
Worthington.  Now,  if  ever  there  was  a  necessity  of  saying 
come,  and  not  go,  to  work,  that  necessity  existed  here,  the 
donations  hitherto  collected  being  all  pledged  for  the  lands. 
This  word  was  said,  and,  under  Providence,  to  this  he  owes 
his  final  success.  The  following  letter,  addressed  to  his  wife, 
will  give  some  idea  of  the  writer's  work  and  condition  at  this 
important  crisis.  Its  date  is  the  earliest  he  can  find  written 
on  the  hill. 

"  Gambier  Hill,  site  of  Kenyon  ) 
College,  June  30,  1826.         \ 
"My  Dear  Wife:  — 

"  It  will  give  you  great  pleasure  to  be  informed,  that  Mr. 
Douglass,  Dudley,  and  myself,  have  enjoyed  perfect  health 
since  we  came  hither.  As  to  our  progress,  we  can  say  noth- 
ing but  good  things,  though  our  hands  are  so  few,  and  every- 

41* 


486  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

thing  is  in  such  a  rude  state  as  to  exhibit  but  little  besides  the 
incipient  footsteps  of  the  lion-like  work  we  have  now  under- 
taken. The  well,  you  know,  was  the  first  thing  to  be  attended 
to ;  as  soon,  therefore,  as  we  could  get  the  thick  bushes  so  far 
cleared  away  as  to  enable  us  to  see  the  light  of  heaven  above, 
and  the  face  of  the  ground  beneath,  the  men  were  ordered  to 
begin  the  Herculean  task  of  sinking  a  well,  and  finding  water 
on  the  lofty  ground.  This  makes  the  third  day  we  have  spent 
in  it,  and  most  happy  I  am  to  state  we  have  dug  eleven  feet,  a 
great  part  of  which  is  through  a  rock.  This  becoming  harder 
and  harder,  I  have  resolved  to  commence  the  use  of  an  auger. 
Apparatus  of  this  kind,  together  with  a  large  cog-wheel  as  a 
part  of  the  machinery  to  be  set  in  motion,  I  have  succeeded  in 
obtaining  in  this  neighborhood  and  in  Mt.  Vernon,  so  that  I 
hope,  by  the  middle  of  next  week,  to  see  this  work  of  boring 
by  horse-power  commence  in  rapid  style. 

"If  you  ask  how  I  get  on  without  money,  I  answer,  the 
Lord  helpeth  me.  What  do  you  think  of  his  mercy  in  sending 
good  Mr.  Davis,  with  half  a  cheese  from  his  mother,  and 
twenty-five  dollars  from  his  father,  presented  to  me  out  of 
pure  regard  to  the  great  and  good  work  which  God  enables 
me  thus  to  carry  on.  Mr.  Norton,  too,  has  sent  me  three 
hands  for  a  short  time.  James  Meleck  came  one  day,  and  old 
Mr.  C.  Elliott  another.  We  have  built  us  a  tent  cabin,  and  if 
we  had  any  one  to  cook  for  us  we  should  live.  It  is  impossi- 
ble to  make  the  hands  board  themselves ;  we  must  find  them 
provisions  ourselves,  or  have  none  to  help  us ;  if  we  can  get 
the  poor  neighbors  to  cook  a  little  for  us  we  do  well.  Judge 
Holmes  has  been  here  for  three  days,  and  is  now  engaged  in 
surveying  the  north  section.  The  streets  and  roads  on  this, 
the  south  section,  have  been  laid  out  as  far  as  can  be  till  we 
find  water.  If  this  cannot  be  obtained  here,  we  shall  move  to 
some  other  quarter. 

"Pray  send  me,  by  Rebecca,  two  more  beds  and  bedding  sim- 
ilar to  those  I  brought  with  me.  I  write  you  this  by  a  poor, 
dim,  hog's  lard  lamp,  which,  shining  askance  on  my  paper, 
will  hardly  permit  me  to  say  how  faithfully  I  am  your  affec- 
tionate husband,  Philander  Chase. 

"  P.  S.     Why  don't  the  Journals  come  ? ' ' 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  487 

Amidst  the  many  hardships  and  difficulties  unavoidably- 
connected  with  this  singular  position  of  the  writer  on  Gambier 
hill,  there  was  one  circumstance  that  cheered  and  consoled 
him.  This  was  the  very  great  privilege  of  beholding  the  smil- 
ing faces  of  a  few  Sunday-school  children  every  Lord's  day. 
They  made  their  appearance  through  the  thick  bushes,  from 
the  little  cabins  within  the  circuit  of  three  or  four  miles,  and 
although  at  first  they  knew  little  or  nothing  of  the  letters' 
names,  and  still  less  of  the  name  of  the  Lord,  yet  finding 
themselves  received  and  entertained  with  kindness,  they  came 
the  second  time,  and  yet  again,  accompanied  by  some  others 
of  their  fellows,  till,  in  point  of  numbers,  the  Sunday-school 
kept  under  the  well-pruned  bushes  of  Gambier  hill  was  quite 
respectable.  It  was  summer,  and  here  they  sat  on  their  tem- 
porary seats,  and  all  the  morning,  till  time  for  prayers  and 
sermon,  and  during  the  intermission  at  noon,  were  taught 
their  letters,  and  then  to  read  the  word  of  God,  and  their 
hymns  to  sing  his  praise. 

So  transitory  were  these  pleasing  duties  of  the  writer's  life, 
so  soon  did  they  pass  away  and  give  place  to  more  important 
duties,  that  he  does  not  know  what  permanent  effect  these 
instructions  might  have  produced.  But  if  even  one  of  these 
little  children,  the  happy  subject  of  a  Saviour's  love,  were 
brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth,  and  saved  by  these 
humble  means,  he  has  reason  to  rejoice. 

The  congregations  on  Sundays,  of  worshippers  on  the  hill, 
were  not  large,  but  always  encouraging  and  attentive.  The 
week-day's  work  also  went  on  with  appearance  of  success: 
the  tenantry  on  the  little  farms,  now  transferred  by  promise  of  a 
deed  from  Mr.  Hogg,  the  former  owner,  to  the  seminary,  were 
visited  and  agreed  with,  some  to  stay  and  some  to  move  away, 
as  seemed  best.  A  writ  of  injunction  was  granted  that  no 
depredations  be  thereafter  committed  on  the  property,  and  all 
seemed  inclined  to  obey. 

What  time  the  writer  left  the  hill  to  visit  his  family  in 
Worthington  cannot  now  be  ascertained,  but  the  following 
letter,  describing  his  return  to  Mt.  Vernon  and  the  college  hill, 
(when  the  effects  of  his  long  exposure  to  the  chilling  fogs, 


488  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

especially  in  the  night  season  in  his  cabin  with  no  gables, 
began  to  make  their  appearance,)  makes  it  evident  he  had 
been  there. 

" Mount  Vernon,  Knox  County,  Ohio,  ) 
Monday,  September  11,  1826.  S 

"  My  Dear  Wife  :  — 

"I  wrote  you  a  letter  to  come  to  see  me,  for  I  was  very  sick, 
and  wanted  you  to  nurse  me,  but  I  was  much  disappointed  to 
find  the  coach  had  come  in  to-day  without  you ;  and,  to  vex 
me  beyond  measure,  it  was  added  that  the  post-boy  had  the 
letter  addressed  to  you  still  in  his  pocket. 

"  I  was  taken  sick  at  Mrs.  Myers',  in  Sunbury,  but  think- 
ing it  might  pass  off  by  exertion,  I  rose  early  and  set  off  on 
Tuesday  morning,  undiscouraged.  But  two  miles  was  the 
furthest  I  could  ride  before  the  chills  came  on  too  hard  to 
bear;  I  stopped  at  Mr.  Perfect's,  where  I  stayed  through  the 
delirium  of  a  subsequent  fever,  lasting  all  night.  The  next 
day  I  rode  on  to  Mr.  Merrill's,  within  nine  or  ten  miles  of  this 
place.  Here  the  disease  renewed,  and  four-doubled  its  force. 
Dr.  Nettleton  was  sent  for,  and  some  of  the  most  painful  hours 
of  my  life  ensued. 

"On  Saturday  I  was  well  enough  to  be  brought  hither, 
where  I  have  been,  by  Mrs.  Nettleton  and  the  neighbors,  most 
kindly  treated.  The  disappointment  occasioned  by  my  not 
seeing  you  again  sunk  my  spirits ;  but  when  I  reflect  that  it 
is  the  Lord,  and  that  the  cares  and  wants  of  our  dear  family 
are  perhaps  greater  than  my  own.  I  feel  ashamed  of  my 
regrets,  and  would  pray  for  a  resigned  spirit;  I  am  better 
every  day ;  to-morrow  I  hope  to  ride  out,  perhaps  to  the  col- 
lege grounds;  next  day,  should  my  strength  continue  to 
increase,  I  think  of  going  on  my  journey  again ;  for  it  is  time, 
if  I  expect  to  see  my  friends  in  Vermont,  before  the  convention 
in  Philadelphia. 

"  Your  faithful  and  affectionate  husband, 

"Philander  Chase." 

The  writer's  next  letter  to  his  wife  has  the  following  date, 
and  from  it  these  are  some  faithful  extracts :  — 


bishop   chase's  reminiscences.  489 

"  Oneida  Castle,  New  York,  ) 
September  20,  1826.      ) 
"My  Dear  Wife:  — 

"I  have  agreed  to  wait  here  till  to-morrow,  that  in  the 
mean  time  I  might  have  some  talk  with  the  chiefs  about  send- 
ing some  Indian  boys  to  our  college. 

"  That  branch  of  the  nation  to  whom  the  offer  of  educating 
their  children  was  first  made,  I  think  treated  us  rather  shab- 
bily, inasmuch  as  they  did  not  send  back  but  two,  when  they 
had  the  very  great  privilege  of  continuing  .six,  to  receive  their 
education  at  our  college ;  I  felt  mortified  at  their  stupid  indif- 
ference and  insensibility  to  their  own  interest,  and  inasmuch 
as  I  was  providentially  prevented  by  sickness  from  going  and 
seeing  them  on  the  Sandusky  river,  in  Ohio,  I  determined  to 
see  what  I  could  do  with  the  parent  stock  at  Oneida. 

"By  what  I  can  learn  from  Mr.  Davis,  the  teacher,  and 
Dennis,  the  Indian  interpreter,  I  think  I  shall  succeed  in  get- 
ting two,  if  not  more,  most  promising  youths.  But  more  of 
this  before  I  close  this  letter,  after  the  expected  interview. 

"  Now  for  a  little  piece  of  my  poor  history.  I  rode  in  great 
pain  from  Mt.  Vernon  to  Sandusky  city,  owing  to  the  blisters 
which  the  doctor  had  drawn  on  my  ancles  when  sick  with 
the  fever ;  one  of  my  legs  and  of  my  feet  inflamed  and  swelled 
exceedingly,  and  has  continued  to  trouble  me  much  to  this 
very  moment.  I  have  been  obliged  to  bind  it  up  tight  with  a 
bandage  from  the  toes  to  the  calf  of  the  leg,  to  keep  the  skin 
from  splitting.  Thank  God,  it  is  now  a  little  better,  and  I  am 
in  hopes  to  get  on  with  less  pain." 

"September  22d. 
"We  have  had  a  conference  with  the  Indian  chiefs;  it  is 
agreed  that  Abraham  Laforte,  the  most  pious,  well-informed, 
and  well-behaved  young  man,  about  twenty-four,  now  a 
school-teacher  among  the  Indians  at  Onandaga,  shall  be  writ- 
ten to  and  solicited  to  go  to  our  seminary  and  study  for  orders, 
and  that  he  bring  along  with  him  three  young  lads  from  the 
Qneida  tribe  in  this  place.  Mr.  Davis,  the  catechist  and  all 
the  headmen,  arc  fully  persuaded  of  the  correctness  and  prac- 
ticability of  this  plan ;  if  it  be  of  God,  as  L  humbly  trust  it  is,  it 


490  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

will  succeed,  and  you  may  expect  these  persons  in  addition  to 
our  family,  in  the  course  of  a  fortnight,  or  a  month  at  furthest, 
after  you  shall  have  had  this. 

"  I  am,  thank  the  goodness  of  God,  better  this  morning.  I 
have  the  company  of  good  Mr.  Nash,  who  most  providentially 
happened  to  come  clear  from  Otsego  county,  and  called  at  this 
very  house  as  I  was  writing  your  letter  yesterday.  He  spoke 
most  beautifully  last  night  to  the  Indian  chiefs. 

"I  am  most  affectionately  your  husband, 

"Philander  Chase." 

In  Albany  the  writer  found  much  satisfaction  in  a  most 
friendly  intercourse  with  good  Dr.  Lacy,  then  Rector  of  St. 
Peter's.  On  the  following  Sunday  he  preached  in  Troy,  and 
saw  his  old  and  fast  friends  in  that  city.  On  his  arrival  at 
his  brother's,  in  Randolph,  Vermont,  amongst  other  things 
which  cheered  him,  was  the  following  letter  from  the  pen  of 
his  Hon.  and  most  efficient  friend,  Henry  Clay.  The  con- 
tents of  this  communication  are  so  evidently  identified  with 
the  main  subjects  of  these  memoirs,  that  it  would  seem  desir- 
able that  all  of  it  should  be  published  here  in  its  proper  place. 

"  Washington,  2Sth  Sept.,  1826. 
"  My  Dear  Bishop  :  — 

"  I  returned  a  few  days  ago,  and  found  that  Mrs.  Clay  had 
reached  the  city  some  days  before  me,  full  of  gratification 
with  her  visit  to  Worthington.  I  also  found  here  your  favor 
of  the  29th  ult.  I  regret  the  continued  decline  of  your  capital 
in  English  funds.  As  to  the  best  investment  of  it  in  this 
country,  when  you  wish  to  draw  it  from  that,  we  have  time 
enough  to  think  of  that  operation. 

"  I  have  seen  the  Postmaster  General  about  the  establish- 
ment of  a  post-office  at  Kenyon  college,  and  your  appointment 
as  postmaster.  He  promises  to  comply  with  your  wishes  in 
both  respects  as  soon  as  you  remove  and  are  established  there ; 
prior  to  that  it  would  be  irregular. 

"When  you  happen  to  write  to  Lord  Gambier,  I  pray 
express  to  him  the  very  great  gratification  I  derive  from  his 
kind  recollection  of  me,  and  assure  him  that  his  friendly  sen- 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  491 

timents  are  cordially  reciprocated ;  I  shall  ever  recollect  that 
the  days  I  passed  with  him  at  Iver  Grove  were  among  the 
most  agreeable  of  my  life. 

"  This  letter  will  find  you  at  your  brother's,  to  whom  I  will 
thank  you  to  communicate  the  friendly  regards  of  your  obe- 
dient servant, 

"  My  dear  Bishop,  H  Clay." 

"TheRt.  Rev.  P.  Chase." 

From  Lord  Gambier. 

"Iver  Grove,  22d  June,  1826. 
11  My  Very  Dear  Bishop  :  — 

"  Your  letters  of  28th  December  and  25th  March  came  duly 
to  my  hand,  and  gave  me  the  same  pleasure  that  every  com- 
munication that  comes  from  you  has  ever  been  attended  with 
since  we  first  met  in  our  earthly  journey.  I  have  delayed  my 
acknowledgment  of  them,  and  my  thanks  for  your  kind 
remembrance  of  me,  knowing  that  you  would  receive  from 
your  highly  esteemed  friends,  Lord  Kenyon  and  Mr.  Wiggin, 
every  information  that  you  could  desire  relative  to  the  inter- 
esting concerns  of  the  object  so  near  to  your  heart,  the 
intended  college,  as  to  that  part  thereof  which  was  transacting 
in  this  country.  Your  last  letter  not  containing  any  intelli- 
gence as  to  the  state  of  your  health,  I  trust  I  may  justly  infer 
that  you  are  in  the  enjoyment  of  it,  and  that  you  have  recov- 
ered from  the  fall  you  had  from  your  horse,  on  which  occasion 
you  were  graciously  preserved  by  a  kind  Providence  over 

you. 

"The  offer  made  by  Mr.  Hogg,  of  the  land  in  Knox  county, 
was  a  gracious  interposition  of  Him  whom  you  so  zealously 
serve.  Little  did  you,  or  any  of  your  coadjutors,  think,  when 
you  were  going  on  so  prosperously  with  your  pious  work  at 
Alum  creek,  that  all  that  would  be  for  naught,  and  that  the 
Lord  had  better  things  in  store  for  you.  It  is  a  gracious  dis- 
pensation, on  which  great  and  mighty  things,  for  his  cause,  in 
future  generations,  depend. 

"I  do  hope  and  confidently  trust  that  'the  Lord  will  pro- 
vide,' and  that  you  will  be  graciously  supplied  with  abundant 
means  to  accomplish  your  great  and  pious  design  of  founding 


492  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

the  theological  seminary,  and  that  a  great  company  of  zealous 
laborers  in  the  Redeemer's  cause  will  be  raised  up  to  preach 
the  blessed  gospel  to  every  individual  throughout  your  land, 
to  the  glory  and  praise  of  his  name. 

"  I  thankfully  acknowledge  the  honor  you  confer  upon  me 
in  giving  my  humble  name  to  the  intended  town;  I  must, 
however,  confess  myself  utterly  unworthy  of  such  a  distinc- 
tion. Lady  Gambier  desires  to  join  me  in  the  most  kind  and 
cordial  regards  towards  you,  with  my  fervent  prayers  for 
your  health  and  prosperity,  and  that  the  blessing  of  the  Great 
Head  of  the  Church  may  be  shed  abundantly  upon  your  pious 
labors  in  His  vineyard,  upon  yourself  and  your  family. 

"I  am  glad  to  think  that  you  have  a  son  of  my  esteemed 
friend,  Mr.  Clay,  under  your  tuition.  I  am  sure  it  will  prove 
a  blessing  to  the  lad,  and  a  happiness  to  his  father.  If  you 
should  have,  shortly,  any  communication  with  Mr.  Clay,  I 
beg  you  will  make  my  kind  acknowledgments  to  him  for  his 
obliging  remembrance  of  me,  and  that  I  fail  not  to  hold  him 
in  my  memory.  With  sincere  affection  and  esteem,  I  remain, 
my  dear  Bishop,  truly  your 

"Affectionate  and  faithful  friend, 

"  Gambier." 


CHAPTER    XLII. 

WRITER'S    PASSING    TRIBUTE    TO    HIS   MOTHER'S    MEMORY ATTENDS 

GENERAL     CONVENTION A     SMALL     FAULT     NOTICED A    FRIEND 

FOUND  —  A   PLEA   FOR    THE   WEST   PUT    FORTH  —  FOREIGN    CORRE- 
SPONDENCE. 

The  writer  remained  but  a  few  days  in  Boston,  yet  even  in 
that  short  visit  received  many  kind  attentions. 

On  his  passing  through  Mendon,  on  his  way  to  Hartford,  he 
made  the  following  record  in  his  journal : 

"  This  is  the  place  which  I  recollect  often  to  have  heard  my 
sainted  mother  mention  as  the  scene  of  her  childhood.  No 
one  now  remembers  her,  yet  I  have  great  reason  to  believe 


bishop  chase's  reminiscences.  493 

she  was  once  the  fairest  flower  that  bloomed  on  Mendon 
Plains.  Many  roses,  no  doubt,  have  since  sprung  where  she 
once  raised  her  modest  head ;  they  also  have  faded,  and,  with 
her,  are  sunk  to  the  silent  earth.  May  they  have  grateful 
friends  to  record  their  names,  as  I  now  do  that  of  my  angel 
mother,  Alice  Corbett" 

At  Hartford  the  writer  was  received  with  hospitality,  but 
was  obliged  to  pass  rapidly  on  to  New  York. 

After  this  he  went  to  Kingston,  Ulster  county,  and  stayed 
two  nights  with  his  beloved  relatives.  In  returning,  called  at 
Poughkeepsie,  the  place  of  his  early  ministry ;  but  owing  to 
his  lameness,  occasioned  by  his  exposure  on  Gambier  hill,  he 
did  not  go  up  into  the  town,  but  met  his  friends  at  the  land- 
ing. On  Sunday,  fifth,  he  preached  for  Dr.  Feltus,  in  New 
York.     He  then  went  to  Philadelphia. 

The  General  Convention  met  this  year  in  this  city,  and,  as 
usual,  would  open  by  the  performance  of  all  its  holy  duties  in 
St.  Peter's  church.  Of  this  the  writer  was  aware,  and  accord- 
ingly engaged  a  coach  to  take  him,  in  his  present  lame  state, 
from  the  house  of  his  Reverend  friend,  Mr.  G.,  now  Dr.,  Boyd, 
in  the  Northern  Liberties,  to  St.  Peter's,  in  due  season.  But 
unhappily,  the  engagement  was  not  fulfilled ;  the  coachman 
did  not  come  till  it  was  too  late  to  reach  the  opening  of  the 
convention.  The  writer,  however,  came,  lame  as  he  was,  on 
foot. 

When  he  arrived  the  sacred  services  were  partially  over, 
and  he  had  no  time  to  put  on  his  robes.  His  singular  appear- 
ance among  the  Bishops,  all  decently  dressed,  in  their  Episco- 
pal robes,  and  himself  in  a  master's  gown  only,  (with  those 
who  knew  not  the  cause,)  was  a  subject  of  severe  remark ; 
which  observing,  the  writer  did  not  think  it  his  duty  to 
explain.  Kvcn  if  it  had  been  an  intentional  fault,  he  thought 
it  cancelled  by  the  coarse  censure  poured  out  upon  it.  Let 
small  faults  pass,  and  give  heed  to  the  weightier  matters  of  the 
law.  ji/s/im.  mercy,  and  truth.  In  attending  this  convention, 
the  writer  had  little  pleasure,  by  means  of  his  great  lameness; 
besides  this,  the  House  of  Bishops  having  been  suddenly  called 
on  to  sympathize   with   the  sufferings  of  the   good    Bishop 

\i 


494  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

Bowen,  who,  by  means  of  the  distresses  in  his  family  in  the 
death  of  a  most  beloved  daughter,  was  obliged  to  leave  for 
South  Carolina,  the  writer  was  deprived  of  his  most  affection- 
ate friend  and  adviser.  After  this  he  felt  himself  alone,  as 
well  as  sick. 

What  had  passed  in  England,  as  related  in  these  memoirs 
and  confirmed  by  so  many  original  documents,  being  then,  for 
conscience'  sake,  almost  entirely  kept  back,  the  writer  had  to 
experience  continually  the  pains  of  a  kind  of  martyrdom  to 
the  peace  of  the  Church.  He  had  pledged  himself  to  peaceful 
measures,  and  to  redeem  this  pledge  he  must  suppress  the 
truth  for  fear  of  irritation.  This  was  actually  done,  to  such 
an  extent  as,  in  many  cases,  entirely  to  prevent  a  righteous 
judgment  being  formed  of  the  whole  matter,  and  it  is  feared 
this  perversion  of  judgment  has  never  been  retraced  to  the 
present  moment. 

At  the  critical  period  of  mental  and  physical  depression  just 
described,  when  the  writer,  in  his  need,  was  praying  most 
devoutly  for  a  friend  indeed,  he  had  the  pleasure  of  an  intro- 
duction to  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Allen,  then  Rector  of  St.  Paul's 
church,  Philadelphia.  By  him  he  was  invited  to  "his  own 
hired  house;"  by  him  he  was  accommodated  with  the  best 
room,  and  the  best  bed,  and  the  best  physicians  the  city  could 
afford — Drs.  Mitchell  and  Physic. 

Here  the  writer  stayed;  for  many  days  and  "wearisome 
nights  were  appointed  unto  him"  while  lying,  by  order  of  Dr. 
Physic,  his  feet  horizontal  with  his  head,  to  cure  the  swelling 
in  his  legs. 

Here  he  was  visited  by  several  most  benevolent  persons, 
among  whom  was  the  then  Mr.  (afterwards  Dr.)  Bedell ;  well 
does  the  writer  remember  the  heavenly  conversation  that  fell 
from  that  good  man's  lips,  and  how  affectionately  he  proffered 
his  services  to  do  him  good.  "  Help  me,"  said  the  writer,  "to 
circulate  a  '  Plea  for  the  West,  in  behalf  of  the  Theological 
Seminary  of  Ohio.'  "  This  request  was  granted;  and,  on  an 
appointed  day,  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Allen  and  Bedell  came  into 
his  sick-room,  and  read  the  first  draft  of  the  little  plea  from 
the  hands  of  the  writer,  and  then  sat  down  the  long  evening 
through,  and  prepared  the  "Plan  of  Kenyon  College"  and 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  495 

the  " Remarks"  (fee.,  to  be  printed  together,  the  whole  form- 
ing but  sixteen  pages.  How  small,  often,  is  the  fountain-head 
of  the  greatest  streams  !  It  must  be  remembered,  at  that  time 
the  people  of  our  communion  were  not  in  the  habit  of  giving ; 
the  luxury  of  doing  so  was  reserved  for  those  who  lived  after 
the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  twenty-six. 

The  writer  of  this  memoir  has  a  manuscript  letter  of  a  most 
eminent  person  in  Philadelphia,  discouraging  efforts  of  benev- 
olence by  soliciting  contributions ;  well  might  the  writer,  there- 
fore, tremble  as  he  essayed  to  address  his  countrymen  for  aid. 
Yet,  from  whatever  quarter  intimidated,  God  encouraged  him 
to  go  on,  and  in  so  doing  he  found  a  blessing. 

As  to  the  " Remarks"  mentioned  above,  being  an  appen- 
dage to  the  "Plea  for  the  West,"  the  circumstances  were  these: 
— The  writer  having  received,  since  in  Philadelphia,  many 
letters  from  his  friends  in  England,  touching  his  late  visit  to 
that  country,  was  solicited  to  show  them  to  his  select  friends, 
assembled  as  above,  to  aid  them  in  their  work.  He  did  so, 
and  the  same  had  such  evident  effect  on  their  minds,  as  to 
create  a  wish  that  proper  extracts  from  them  should  in  some 
way  come  before  the  public.  After  a  suitable  introduction,  the 
Remarks  go  on  and  conclude  as  follows : 

"As  we  have  been  permitted  to  have  access  to  some  of  the 
late  correspondence  of  Bishop  Chase,  we  shall  give  a  few 
extracts,  merely  to  exhibit  the  state  of  feeling  that  exists  in 
England  on  this  subject.  The  first  is  from  a  daughter  of  the 
celebrated  Jones  of  Nayland, : 

"'How  earnestly  have  I  wished  it  were  in  my  power  to 
testify  my  desire  of  assisting  you,  dear  sir,  in  your  labor  of 
love,  with  an  offering  more  worthy  of  your  regard;  but  He 
who  sees  the  heart  did  not  despise  the  widow's  mite,  and  I 
feel  a  degree  of  confidence  that  my  most  humble  offering  will 
not  be  disregarded  by  you.  Did  my  ability  keep  pace  with 
my  wishes,  the  units  would  be  converted  into  hundreds]  but 
my  heart  is  with  you,  and  my  humble  prayers  (in  unison  with 
those  of  your  numerous  more  valuable  friends  in  England  and 
elsewhere)  will  never  cease  to  be  offered  up  while  I  have  life, 
for  your  health,  prosperity,  and  every  blessing,  temporal  and 


496  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

spiritual ;  and  may  they  be  heard  and  graciously  answered, 
through  the  merits  of  Him  whose  you  are  and  whom  you 
serve.' 

"  The  next  is  from  a  letter  which  accompanied  a  present  of 
books  for  the  library  of  Kenyon  college  : 

"'Rev.  Sir:  —  The  books  which  accompany  this  are  sent 
to  you  at  the  request  of  my  dear  wife. — now,  I  trust,  through 
the  merits  of  her  Redeemer,  a  saint  in  heaven,  —  who  had  the 
privilege  of  seeing  and  conversing  with  you  in  the  Chapter 
house  in  this  city,  [Bristol,]  where  she  was  the  only  lady 
present  when  you  made  the  interesting  communication  of  the 
object  which  led  you  to  this  country,  and  who  felt  deeply 
interested  in  the  success  of  that  object.  That  it  may  please 
the  Great  Head  of  our  Church  to  bless  your  endeavors  for  the 
spiritual  benefit  of  your  native  country  to  his  own  glory,  and 
to  enrich  yourself  more  and  more  with  the  manifold  grace 
of  his  Holy  Spirit,  is  the  prayer  of .' 

"  The  next  from  Lord  Kenyon : 

"  'We  cannot  but  heartily  praise  God  for  his  goodness  in  so 
signally  prospering  your  pious  incessant  endeavors  to  train  up 
ministers  for  his  blessed  Son's  flock  in  your  Ohio.  The 
Bishop  of  London,  in  the  hurry  of  visitation,  writes — "The 
success  of  Bishop  Chase's  establishment  gives  me  great  pleas- 
ure ;  I  hope  it  may  go  on  and  prosper,  and  finally  give  a 
decided  ascendency,  in  those  newly-peopled  countries,  to  the 
purest  profession  of  faith  and  the  best  form  of  church  govern- 
ment." The  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  writes  —  "I  thank 
you  for  the  extracts  from  the  letters  of  Bishop  White  and 
Bishop  Chase.  The  zeal  in  the  cause  of  Christianity  evi- 
denced by  both  is  most  satisfactory,  and,  in  the  unformed 
condition  of  the  Church  in  America,  most  necessary."  ' 

"The  above  extracts  from  Lord  Kenyon1  s  letter,  however, 
do  not  show  the  full  extent  of  his  zeal  for  Christ.  In  the  same 
letter  he  expresses  his  willingness  to  advance  four  thousand 
pounds  sterling,  for  the  four  thousand  acres  of  land  which  the 
trustees  wish  to  dispose  of,  provided  the  advance  should  be 
necessary.  He  speaks  of  the  inconvenience  of  his  doing  so, 
but  declares,  '  No  private  sacrifice  of  my  own  shall  weigh  with 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  497 

me,  if  the  cause  be  at  hazard.'    Here  is  a  nobility  greater  than 
kings  can  bestow. 

"The  next  is  from  the  daughter  of  a  highly  respectable 
clergyman.  At  the  time  of  writing  it,  she  was  but  about 
fourteen  years  of  age,  and  so  great  was  her  interest,  that  by 
her  industry  she  raised  nearly  thirty-five  dollars  towards  the 
object. 

"  '  May  I  beg  of  you  to  give  my  affectionate  love  to  your 
children,  and  tell  them  how  little  deserving  I  feel  myself  of 
their  love,  and  of  my  most  honorable  title,  "  Mary  Ohio."  I 
wish  it  were  in  my  power  to  prove  myself  better  entitled  to 
one  and  the  other,  but  I  believe  I  shall  easily  gain  credence 
when  I  say,  that  to  repay  to  Ohio  one  iota  of  those  blessings 
which  I  have  received  from  her  would  be  a  real  happiness  to 
me.  Of  this  your  infant  Zion  may  rest  satisfied,  that  my 
voice  will  ever  be  joined  with  those  of  her  sincere  friends,  in 
imploring  the  blessing  of  God  for  her.  I  think  one  who  can 
give  so  little  ought  not  to  take  so  much  of  what  is  so  inval- 
uable to  her,  and  therefore  I  will  infringe  no  longer  on  your 
precious  time  than  to  thank  you  once  more  for  your  great 
kindness  to  me,  who  can  only  wish  you  well,  and  can  plead 
your  cause  in  no  other  way  than  by  sometimes  whispering, 
there  isa"  rose  in  the  west,"  whose  head  is  drooping  for  want 
of  watering,  and  her  stem  bending  for  want  of  propping.' 

"  Throughout  these  letters  are  interspersed  the  most  striking 
expressions  of  veneration  and  love  for  the  person  to  whom 
they  are  addressed.  The  strongest  of  these  we  withhold,  and 
permission  to  publish  the  above  short  extracts  would  not  have 
been  requested  by  us,  but  from  a  conviction  that  the  Christian 
spirit  they  breathe,  and  the  expanded  benevolence  they  mani- 
fest, would  profit,  and  at  the  same  time  go  to  show  that  the 
love  of  the  gospel  is  confined  to  no  particular  circumstance  of 
outward  condition.  The  spirit  once  renewed,  the  man  is  a 
little  child  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  whether  he  be  first  lord  of  the 
English  treasury  or  an  humble  cottager. 

"Among  the  contributors  was  Hannah  More,  who  took  a 
very  deep  interest  in  the  plans  of  Bishop  Chase,  and  whose 
individual  subscription  was  nearly  one  hundred  dollars. 

"We  have  given  these  extracts,  and  mentioned  these  facts, 

42* 


498  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

to  show  the  excitement  which  this  subject  produced  in  a  for- 
eign land ;  and  if  such  was  the  interest  abroad,  would  it  not 
be  strange  if  no  corresponding  feeling  were  produced  at  home? 
It  would  be  disgraceful  to  our  own  country,  if,  with  the  exam- 
ple of  British  benevolence  before  us,  to  so  great  an  amount  as 
that  of  thirty  thousand  dollars,  we  should  permit  this  noble 
design  to  be  paralyzed,  for  the  want  of  sufficient  liberality 
among  ourselves  to  raise  the  sum  of  one  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  which  would  bring  the  whole  into  immediate  and 
successful  operation. 

"Among  the  various  plans  of  religious  and  literary  benefi- 
cence, which  are  from  time  to  time  placed  before  the  attention 
of  the  public,  we  consider  this  as  having  claims  of  a  para- 
mount consideration.  It  looks  to  the  permanent  establishment 
of  a  literary  institution,  whose  great  praise  is,  that  it  is  based 
on  the  sure  foundation  of  Christianity,  and  that  from  it  will 
flow,  in  one  broad  and  fertilizing  river,  the  mingled  streams 
of  learning  and  religion.  As  the  western  states  ascend  in  the 
scale  of  political  importance,  they  should  grow  in  the  means 
of  disseminating  the  blessings  of  a  chastened  literature  and  a 
pure  Christianity :  and  as  in  the  infancy  of  those  states,  and 
in  the  rapidity  of  their  growth,  it  is  impossible  for  the  inhab- 
itants to  devote  as  much  from  among  themselves  as  may  be 
necessary  to  accomplish  these  desirable  and  infinitely  impor- 
tant objects,  it  appears  the  obvious  duty,  and  should  be  the 
pleasure,  of  the  Christian  patriot,  to  lend  the  aid  of  his  exer- 
tions, and  devote  a  share  of  the  property  with  which  God  has 
blessed  him,  to  further  those  objects  which,  if  they  can  be 
carried  into  execution,  must,  in  the  providence  of  God,  secure 
to  present  and  future  generations  virtue  and  happiness.  May 
the  Lord  incline  the  hearts  of  all  to  estimate  the  importance 
of,  and  to  cherish  accordingly,  this  great  and  interesting 
enterprise" 

This  little  "  Plea  for  the  West,"  though  it  had  no  intrinsic 
value  but  its  truth,  yet  produced  a  salutary  effect.  It  opened 
the  eyes  of  many  who  were  prejudiced  against  a  "western 
seminary,"  and  avowedly  hostile  to  the  going  to  England  for 
assistance.    It  was  like  Noah's  dove,  sent  forth  from  the  little 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  499 

frail,  tempest- tossed  church  of  the  apostles,  in  the  vast  ocean 
of  the  west,  the  Mississippi  valley,  uttering  not  the  croakings 
of  disappointed  ambition,  nor  the  warlike  notes  of  revenge  for 
past  injuries,  but  bearing  in  its  beak  the  olive-branch  of  peace 
and  love. 

In  this  light  it  was  regarded  in  that  city,  ever  famous  for  its 
brotherly  affection.  Many  confessed  themselves  won  by  its 
gentle  spirit,  and  the  collections  for  the  Ohio  seminary  were 
liberal.  Soon  after  it  was  issued,  the  Rev.  Dr.  B.,  of  the 
university,  paid  a  visit  to  the  writer,  concerning  which  visit 
the  following  remarks  are  made,  in  a  letter  of  the  6th  Decem- 
ber, 1826,  addressed  by  the  writer  to  his  wife:  — 

"  Dr.  B.  entered  freely  on  the  subject  of  my  going  to  Eng- 
land, and  said  although  he  was  opposed  to  the  measure  at 
first,  yet  had  he  known  how  kindly  they  would  have  received 
me,  and  how  freely  and  generously,  and  even  thankfully,  they 
would  have  contributed  towards  my  object,  he  should  have 
been  in  favor,  and  not  against,  my  going.  He  intimated  that 
the  letters  and  papers  which,  within  a  few  days  past,  had  been 
published  in  this  city,  had  opened  the  subject  to  his  mind  in 
quite  a  new  light,  and  that  he  now  should  be  my  friend. 

"  And  now,  my  dear  wife,  you  may  from  this  example  (for 
it  is,  I  think,  but  a  fair  representation  of  a  thousand  others) 
see  what  the  good  God  has  designed  for  the  Ohio  seminary, 
by  my  lameness  and  consequent  detention  in  this  city.  The 
far  greater  part  of  the  Church,  in  this  country,  were  in  a  kind 
of  darkness  concerning  this  said  expedition  to  England.  They 
knew  neither  the  motives  which  led  to  it,  nor  the  maimer  in 
which  it  was  conducted.  That  greatness  of  mind,  that  good- 
ness of  heart,  that  fulness  of  charity,  and  that  refined  cour- 
teousness  of  manner,  which  are  conspicuous  in  the  English 
religious  characters,  were  unknown  to  the  calculating,  suspi- 
cious minds  of  a  great  portion  of  the  money-getting,  worldly- 
minded,  self-styled  'high-minded,1  party  in  the  American 
Church.  While  they  thought  they  knew,  it  was  by  their 
own  little  minds  they  judged  them,  and  they  found  themselves 
mistaken  in  the.  event. 

"What  is  now  before  the  public  serves  to  counteract  these 


500  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

false  impressions,  and,  at  the  same  time,  by  showing  how  dis- 
interestedly good  and  benevolent  the  English  have  been,  to 
provoke  into  good  works  this  country.  Blessed  result !  And 
if,  in  the  train  to  produce  it,  my  detention  in  this  city  has  con- 
tributed an  integral  part,  how  thankful  ought  I  to  be  that  I 
have  been  afflicted ! " 

In  a  subsequent  letter,  to  the  same,  dated  the  28th  of  De- 
cember, 1826,  the  writer  mentioned  a  subject  then  engrossing 
most  of  his  deepest  private  cogitations :  that  of  trying  to  place 
that  accomplished  English  scholar  and  theologian,  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Hartwell  Home,  at  the  head  of  the  Ohio  seminary, 
under  the  Bishop  of  the  diocese. 

After  alluding  to  some  other  application  for  this  important 
station,  the  writer  says:  — 

"My  heart  is  set  more  and  more  on  T.  H.  H.,  and  soon 
shall  look  for  letters  from  Lord  Kenyon  on  this  subject,  with 
great  anxiety.  If  we  be  successful  in  the  project,  our  institu- 
tion will  command  more  respect  than  any  other  in  the  United 
States.  If  its  usefulness  in  training  good  soldiers  of  Jesus 
Christ  be  equal  to  its  popularity,  all  will  be  well.  The  great 
sin  of  getting  above  your  business,  of  waxing  so  fat  on  the 
mercies  of  God  as  to  kick  like  Jeshurun,  and  for  that  cause 
only,  be  cast  down  and  destroyed— this  is  most  to  be  dreaded." 

And  here  it  may  be  well  to  state,  that  the  proposition  for 
getting  Mr.  T.  H.  Home  to  the  Ohio  seminary  was  well 
received,  but  by  that  gentleman  declined,  not  from  any  unwil- 
lingness on  his  own  part  to  come,  but  on  account  of  the  incon- 
venience it  would  occasion  to  his  family. 

The  matter  of  raising  in  England  a  sufficient  support  for 
him  was  of  minor  consequence;  Lord  Kenyon  promising,  as 
he  did,  to  subscribe  a  handsome  annual  sum  during  his  life, 
would  have  been  readily  followed  by  many.  Thus  circum- 
stanced, the  project  was,  to  the  great  grief  of  the  writer,  relin- 
quished. 

While  in  Philadelphia,  the  writer,  in  making  collections  for 
the  Ohio  seminary,  experienced  great  encouragement  from  that 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  501 

honest  and  upright  gentleman,  Paul  Beck,  Esq.  His  home 
was  open  to  him  and  his  friends,  his  exertions  in  his  favor 
were  unremitting,  and  his  donations  liberal;  all  which  laid 
the  foundation  of  a  lasting  friendship  in  the  grateful  bosom  of 

the  writer. 

But  it  is  time  to  break  off  the  thread  of  the  narrative,  for 
the  more  pleasing  duty  of  inserting  a  letter  from  the  writer's 
most  excellent  and  learned  friend,  G.  W.  M.,  dated  as  fol- 
lows :  — 

"Hastings,  23d  Dec.,  1826. 
"  My  Dear  and  Venerated  Friend  :  — 

"  All  the  intelligence  which  has  lately  reached  us,  of  you 
and  your  measures,  has  continually  delighted  our  hearts, 
(thanks  to  Lord  Kenyon  and  Mr.  Wiggin,  whatever  comes  to 
them  reaches  us,)  and  I  cannot  express  the  gratification  I  have 
derived  from  that  connection  with  the  Church  in  its  compara- 
tively infantine  branches,  which  I  owe,  as  to  America,  and  to 
the  trust  as  to  the  Episcopalian  fund,  with  which  Mr.  Bowd- 
ler  invested  me,  as  to  Scotland.     You  must  have  heard  that 
the  Church  there  is  profiting,  as  in  so  many  parts  it  has  lately 
done,  by  the  spirit  of  education  which  characterizes  our  age. 
At  Edinburgh,  an  Episcopal  college  is  in  the  course  of  being 
established,  and  Bishop  Jolly  has  already  devoted  his  extensive 
theological  library  to  its  use,  forever  after  his  death,  as  good 
Bishop  Burgess  has  his,  to  St.  David's  college.     By-the-bye, 
that  blessed  institution  (the  greatest  boon,  I  believe,  that  any 
English  or  Welsh  Bishop  ever  gave  to  his  diocese,  and  which 
led  the  venerable  founder  to  say,  '  Bishop  Chase  is  just  as 
much  a  schismatic  as  myself)  has  just  commenced  its  oper- 
ations, and  takes  in,  at  one  time,  (in  the  very  heart  of  a  dio- 
cese of  almost  unexampled  extent,  and  peculiarly  destitute 
previously  of  the  means  of  clerical  education,)  seventy-five 
students,  at  the  expense  of  fifty  pounds  per  annum,  lor  each. 
I  trust  that  you  have  long  ago  received,  what  I  know  you  will 
highly  value,  both  for  its  own  and  for  the  Right  Reverend 
donor's  sake,  the  engraving  for  the  college,  which  the  Bishop 
sent  you  through  my  hands.     I  saw  the  original  last  summer, 


502  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

and  the  engraving  might  have  done  much  more,  without  an 
iota  of  flattery. 

"  Where  are  the  Diocesan  Convention  Journals?  It  is  now 
so  long  since  you  wrote  of  them  as  arrived  in  England,  that  I 
fear  that  some  mishap  has  befallen  them.  With  still  more 
eagerness,  if  possible,  I  shall  look  for  those  of  the  General 
Convention ;  it  cannot  be  but  that  splendid  and  triumphant 
notice  should  there  be  made  of  the  Ohio  seminary  and  college. 
The  case  is  like  that  we  sometimes  see  of  individuals,  whose 
merits  are  such  that  neither  their  own  modesty  nor  the  envy 
of  others  can  prevent  their  full,  though  perhaps  late,  acknowl- 
edgment. Three  years  ago,  when  the  General  Conventior 
met,  your  mission  had  not  taken  place,  though  possibly  your 
intention  was  known ;  but  now  it  has  produced  effects  as  to 
America,  and  as  to  England  and  America  viewed  relatively, 
on  which  the  General  Convention  cannot  be  silent,  or  even  tame 
in  the  language  used. 

11  On  the  subject  of  colleges,  I  forgot  to  mention  that  Wind- 
sor college,  in  JNova  Scotia,  is  now  in  such  action,  that  the 
Propagation  Society  are  solicited  not  to  send  forth  missionaries 
from  England ;  and  in  Barbadoes,  Codrington  college  is  to  be 
advanced  from  a  limited  and  initiatory  school  to  a  seminary, 
conferring  degrees  in  divinity  and  completing  the  education  of 
ministers  for  the  Church. 

"The  Regeneration  Controversij  has  been  in  a  degree 
revived,  but  I  hope  only  to  be  settled  forever  by  an  admirable 
address  to  Episcopalians  in  Scotland  by  Bishop  Jolly,  several 
of  which  found  their  way  to  England,  and  by  the  visitation 
sermons  of  Mr.  Jerram,  who  succeeded  Mr.  Daniel  Wilson  in 
the  Bedford  Row  chapel.  Both  these  publications,  especially 
the  latter,  have  had  a  most  favorable  acceptation.  Mr.  Jerram 
has  the  merit  of  candidly  avowing  that  in  a  former  publication 
he  had  taken  a  loose  and  erroneous  view  of  the  subject,  and 
gives  an  account  of  his  being  rectified  by  the  suggestions  of  a 
brother  clergyman,  in  consequence  of  which  he  fully  investi- 
gated the  subject,  and  came  deliberately  to  the  conclusion 
that  regeneration,  in  the  sense  of  our  Church,  is  confined  to 
baptism.  In  what  he  adds  of  the  change  of  nature  which  all 
true  Christians  undergo,  Robert  considers  him  as  most  remark- 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  503 

ably  coinciding  with  your  views  of  this  subject.  This  reminds 
me  of  Robert's  frequent  and  affectionate  allusions  to  you.  He 
keeps  up  the  fondest  remembrance  of  your  visit,  and  would 
rejoice,  I  doubt  not,  more  than  in  almost  any  human  event,  in 
a  repetition  of  it.  Pray  charge  me  with  some  commands  to 
him  and  his,  and  to  Lady  Palmer,  your  countrywoman,  whose 
regard  for  you  is  of  the  nature  of  asbestos. 

"  Entirely  do  I  feel  that  a  private  answer  is  an  adequate 

set-off  against  the  public  attack  of .     But  I  much  more 

lament  that  the  only  public  answer  given  should  be  what  you 
think  calculated  rather  to  increase  than  to  allay  mischief,  and 
to  give  him  triumph  rather  than  a  check.  His  conduct,  I 
verily  believe,  has  done  much  to  rectify  your  cause  here. 
Many  are  there  who  remember  that  all  their  opposition  to  you 
issued  from  him,  and  many  who  cannot  forget  that,  even 
while  they  opposed,  they  doubted. 

"  The  good  Mr.  Rogers,  of  Bath,  whose  sermon  against 
Unitarianism  you  determined  to  publish  in  a  cheap  form  in 
America,  has  published  a  sixth  edition  here,  to  be  had  from 
Longman  &  Co.,  Paternoster  Row,  London,  and  Crutwell. 
Bath.  The  good  Bishop  of  Salisbury  having  been  at  Bath  for 
his  wife's  health,  has  had  much  communication  with  him  of 
late.  The  Bishop  frequently  mentions  you,  and  always  with 
affectionate  veneration,  and  courts  a  communication  of  all 
intelligence  respecting  you  and  your  measures.  He  is  much 
bent  on  bringing  about  a  greater  cooperation  between  the  Pro- 
testant churches  of  England,  Scotland  and  America,  for  the 
sake  of  their  joint  opposition  to  Popery. 

11  My  dear  wife  charges  me  to  tell  you  how  undiminished 
and  unalterable  a  regard  she  bears  towards  you,  and  how  the 
welfare  of  you  and  all  yours  occupies  her  heartiest  wishes  and 
prayers.  She  had  the  company  of  Mrs.  Wiggin  here  for  about 
three  weeks,  and  formed,  in  that  interval,  a  highly  increased 
value  for  her. 

M  I  have  seen  as  much  as  I  can  of  the  family  in  Harley 
street  during  my  exile  from  my  own,  and  shall  hope  to  visit 
them  very  soon  after  my  return  next  Monday.  We  never  find, 
the  ( )hio  cause  fail. 

"Adieu!  my  dear  and  reverend  friend,  with  my  warmest 


504  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

wishes  that  the  blessings  of  this  blessed  season  may  be  show- 
ered on  you  and  yours.  I  am  ever  devotedly  and  affection- 
ately yours,  G.  W.  Marriott." 


CHAPTER    XLIII. 

THE   WRITER   VISITS   NEW   YORK " APPEAL"    PUT   FORTH   THERE  — 

GOES    TO   BOSTON "KENYON  CIRCLE  " G.  M.  WEST  INTRODUCED 

OPINION    OF    BISHOPS    GRISWOLD    AND    BROWNELL    RELATIVE    TO 

HIS  ORDINATION. 

It  had  been  said  that  the  pictures  of  the  literary  and  relig- 
ious wants  of  our  western  country,  drawn  by  the  writer  while 
in  England,  were  " too  highly  colored"  In  like  manner  and 
with  equal  confidence  it  was  asserted,  by  a  certain  class  of 
people,  that  he  exaggerated  his  account  of  English  beneficence. 

Now,  after  what  has  been  related  in  this  memoir,  and  after 
what  is  known  of  the  state  of  religion  and  learning  in  the 
valley  of  the  Mississippi,  he  appeals  to  the  reader  to  settle  the 
question  whether  both  these  opinions  were  not  founded  in 
error. 

Every  well-informed  person  cannot  but  be  struck  at  the 
strict  conformity  to  truth,  in  all  the  statements  made  by  the 
writer  in  his  appeals  to  the  public,  setting  forth  the  deteriorat- 
ing effects  of  neglecting  the  means  of  sound  learning  and  true 
religion  in  the  western  states.  And  who  that  has  thus  far 
read  these  memoirs  can  say  there  was  any  false  coloring  given 
to  his  reception  in  England,  and  the  unbounded  kindness 
shown  him  there?  But  in  January,  1827,  the  veil  was  not 
withdrawn  from  the  eyes  of  a  great  proportion  of  our  beloved 
Church ;  and  the  writer  then  entered  the  city  of  New  York, 
the  city  where  he  had  been  ordained,  under  a  cloud  of  preju- 
dice truly  appalling.  A  western  seminary,  in  their  opinion, 
was  not  yet  called  for.  The  scheme  was  schismatical  and 
chimerical,  and  to  have  asked  aid  from  abroad  was  enough  to 
make  it  disgraceful  to  assist  in  its  completion.  These  were 
discouraging  circumstances,  and  had  not  a  divine  hand  sup- 


BISHOP     CHASE    S     REMINISCENCES.  505 

ported  him,  the  writer,  even  at  this  stage  of  success,  would 
have  sunk  under  a  never-dying  opposition. 

Remaining  in  New  York  a  few  days,  he  ventured  to  publish 
as  follows :  — 

11  An  Appeal  in  behalf  of  Religion  and  Learning  in  Ohio. 

"The  undersigned  entreats  to  be  heard  a  few  words  touching 
the  interests  of  our  common  beloved  country  in  general,  and 
of  the  western  states,  and  of  Ohio,  in  particular.  His  story 
will  be  short,  but,  as  he  trusts,  worth  the  hearing. 

"It  is  well  known  that  the  progress  of  settlements  at  the 
west  has  hitherto  far  outstripped  the  means  of  religion  and 
learning.  A  few  years  ago,  Ohio  was  a  wilderness,  no  trace 
of  civilized  man  was  seen  in  all  her  extended  forests.  That 
state  is  now  inhabited  by  a  million  of  immortal  souls.  As 
with  a  mighty  stream,  collecting  itself  from  all  quarters  of  the 
world,  the  western  country  has  been  overspread  ere  those  who 
were  left  behind  were  aware  that  the  settlement  had  com- 
menced. 

"  But  in  making  this  sudden  transition  from  an  old  to  a  new 
world,  —  a  transition  which  for  its  extent  and  celerity  is  unex- 
ampled in  the  history  of  man, — impossibilities  could  not  be 
effected.  The  means  of  perpetuating  the  science  and  piety  of 
his  forefathers  could  not  be  obtained,  nor  continued,  while 
every  man  had  not  only  to  pay  into  the  treasury  of  the  United 
States,  frequently,  his  last  dollar,  for  the  soil  under  his  feet, 
but  to  contend  with  the  manifold  difficulties  of  subduing  the 
forest,  —  difficulties  which  undermine  and  destroy  the  natural 
constitution  of  more  than  one  generation  before  they  are 
entirely  overcome.  To  institute  schools,  build  colleges  and 
churches,  and  maintain  ministers  of  the  gospel,  in  any  degree 
adequate  to  the  great  necessity,  during  the  continuance  of  this 
vast  work,  was  literally  impossible,  and  experience  lias  wit- 
nessed the  sad  consequences.  The  son,  save  in  a  very  few 
instances,  knows  not,  nor,  unless  goniethmg  mm  ifl  speedily 
done,  is  be  ever  likely  to  know,  what  his  father  knew.  A 
<l«trnnratinn  both  in  knowledge  and  religion  takes  place,  too 
painful  in  describe. 

"  Placed  by  the  providence  of  God  over  a  portion  of  the 

43 


506  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

Christian  community  in  Ohio,  and  feeling  for  their  welfare, 
the  undersigned  deemed  himself  in  duty  bound  to  do  some- 
thing in  his  humble  sphere  for  the  common  good,  in  trying  to 
remedy  and  prevent  these  dreadful  evils,  ignorance  and  irre- 
Ugion.  How  was  this  to  be  effected  ?  To  advise  his  people 
to  send  their  sons  into  the  old  settlements,  many  hundred 
miles  away,  for  their  education,  literary  or  religious,  would 
have  been  to  advise  them  to  impossibilities,  or,  in  their  strait- 
ened circumstances,  to  measures  almost  ruinous.  To  say  that 
none  should  be  educated  but  such  as  should  go  to  the  eastern 
institutions  for  their  learning,  where  the  expenses,  in  compari- 
son with  those  which  would  be  required  in  the  west,  would 
be  as  three  is  to  one,  was  equivalent  to  saying  that  the  whole 
western  country  should  be  doomed  to  never-ceasing  moral  and 
religious  darkness. 

"  To  institute  a  seminary  of  learning,  therefore,  and  place 
it  on  the  spot  where  it  was  wanted ;  where  the  sons  of  the  soil 
could  be  educated  at  an  expense  within  their  reach,  and  in 
habits  suited  to  their  sphere  of  life,  was  as  necessary  as  it  was 
reasonable.  But  how  to  commence,  and  whence  to  draw  the 
means  to  begin  so  vast  a  work,  the  God  of  heaven,  who  hath 
the  hearts  and  wills  of  men  and  the  world  itself  at  his  com- 
mand, alone  could  tell.  Under  the  weight  of  this  anxious 
inquiry,  and  humbly  seeking  for  direction  and  aid  from  above, 
the  undersigned  turned  his  attention  towards  the  pious,  en- 
lightened, and  liberal  members  of  the  Church  of  England. 
The  reason  which  sustained  the  propriety  of  this  measure 
rested  on  this  important  fact,  that  of  the  number  of  settlers  in 
Ohio,  to  whom  the  undersigned  is  appointed  to  minister,  a  full 
third  were  and  are  British-born  subjects ;  and  while  these,  in 
common  with  our  own  countrymen,  mingled  in  the  mighty 
stream  which  was  populating  our  western  country,  and,  by  its 
very  rapid  and  inundating  effects,  producing  a  religious  and 
literary  famine,  it  seemed  but  reasonable  that  their  brethren, 
in  their  own  immediate  parent  country,  should  bear  a  part  in 
the  benevolent  work  of  affording  them  relief;  and  never  was 
there  a  sentiment  by  the  result  more  fully  justified.  No  sooner 
was  the  appeal  made  unto  them,  on  this  ground,  than  they 
met  and  answered  it  with  an  open  and  liberal  hand.     '  Take,' 


bishop  chase's  reminiscences.  507 

said  they,  'our  proportion  in  full,  to  accomplish  your  great 
and  benevolent  design ;  but  in  so  doing  our  wishes  are  appro- 
priate and  just,  that  what  we  give  be  regarded  as  a  fund  to  be 
laid  out  in  lands,  or  otherwise,  for  the  permanent  benefit  of  this 
and  future  generatio?is? 

"It  would  be  unpardonable  in  the  undersigned,  while  he 
thus  states  the  munificence  and  reasonable  wishes  of  our 
transatlantic  brethren,  to  omit  the  expressions  of  Christian 
piety,  charity  and  courteousness,  which  accompanied  all  their 
gifts.  Frequently  was  it  observed,  '  that  so  far  from  consider- 
ing it  to  be  an  unworthy  or  degrading  office  to  be  the  bearer 
of  the  wants  and  wishes  of  their  countrymen  and  fellow  Chris- 
tians, now  removed  into  the  new  world,  they  felt  themselves 
honored,  and  deemed  it  a  blessing  to  be  thus  applied  to  and 
thus  to  be  the  instruments  of  doing  good.'  Accordingly 
they  gave,  and  their  gifts  amounted  to  nearly  thirty  thousand 
dollars, 

"With  a  heart  deeply  penetrated  by  grateful  emotions  for 
such  unexampled  benevolence  from  a  foreign  fountain,  the 
undersigned  would  turn,  with  reasonable  confidence  and  with 
great  respect,  to  his  own  countrymen,  and  while  he  does  so, 
he  offers  an  anxious  and  fervent  prayer  to  God,  that  he  may 
find  favor  in  their  sight. 

"  He  earnestly  desires  them  to  consider,  that  the  steps  taken 
by  the  undersigned  have  been  approved  by  the  Christian 
world,  and  by  his  own  community  in  Ohio  in  particular ;  that 
the  convention  of  Ohio,  having  framed  a  constitution  and 
appointed  trustees  of  the  intended  institution,  in  conformity  to 
acknowledged  principles,  the  civil  legislature  has  established 
the  same  as  a  corporate  body ;  that  a  tract  of  land  of  groat 
intrinsic  worth,  especially  as  a  future,  sure  and  increasing 
revenue  to  the  college,  has  been  purchased  at  a  very  reduced 
price,  and  the  seminary  and  college  unanimously  and  perma- 
nently fixed  thereon;  and  that,  for  the  payment  of  this  hind, 
consisting  of  eight  thousand  acres,  the  funds  collected  in  Eng- 
land have  in  a  L'reat  measure,  been  pledged. 

"The  result  of  all  this  is  the  imperious  necessity  of  obtain- 
ing the  means  to  erect  the  requisite  building*.  Thai  this 
necessity  may  appear  undisputed,  lot  the  greatness  of  the 


508  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

undertaking  and  the  smallness  of  the  means  hitherto  obtained, 
however  munificent  in  themselves,  be  compared;  and  how 
conspicuous  will  be  the  disparity !  What  college  was  ever 
reared  with  only  thirty  thousand  dollars?  If  we  saw  our 
buildings  now  erected,  and  if  the  funds  obtained  in  England 
were  now  at  interest,  the  whole  would  constitute  but  a  begin- 
?iing,  but  the  foundation,  of  so  great  a  work.  What,  then, 
must  be  the  solicitude  of  every  true  Christian,  and  lover  of  his 
country,  for  the  fate  of  this  benevolent  work,  when  he  is  told 
that  the  buildings  are  scarcely  commenced,  and  the  funds, 
according  to  the  design  of  the  donors,  are  invested  more  for 
permanent  than  for  present  use.  Was  it  unreasonable,  when 
the  undersigned  stipulated  with  the  benefactors,  in  England, 
that  if  they  would  contribute  towards  the  permanent  fund,  his 
own  country,  America,  would  furnish  means  for  the  buildings? 
To  refuse  such  a  condition  would  have  been  to  bring  a  stain 

on  his  native  land.      Tho  honor,    therefore,    of   the  Amorican 

name  unites  with  the  goodness  of  the  cause,  in  sustaining  the 
fervent  hope  and  humble  trust,  that  this  stipulation  will  be 
fulfilled.  The  Ohio  seminary  will  succeed ;  Americans  will 
do  something  to  erect  the  buildings,  when  their  religious 
brethren  in  England  have  done  so  much  for  its  permanent 

support. 

"  Philander  Chase,  Bishop  of  Ohio. 

This  plea  met  with  considerable  success.  To  the  honor  of 
New  York,  many  persons  proved  themselves  exceptions  to  the 
spirit  of  prejudice  so  long  cherished  against  a  western  semi- 
nary, and  to  the  writer  as  its  advocate ;  so  that,  in  leaving  the 
queen  of  our  Atlantic  cities  for  his  native  New  England,  the 
writer  had  abundant  cause  of  gratitude. 

The  cause  of  Ohio  had  intrinsic  merit,  and  notwithstanding 
the  feebleness  of  its  advocate,  he  met  with  signal  success  in 
Boston,  Salem,  Newburyport,  and  Worcester  county ;  in  Provi- 
dence, R.  I. ;  in  Portsmouth,  N.  H. ;  in  Portland  and  Gardi- 
ner, in  Maine.  The  writer  would  go  into  particulars,  but  the 
designed  brevity  of  this  work  will  not  allow. 

There  are  two  items  of  history,  however,  which  he  ought  to 
notice:   the  one,  a  fruitful  instance  of  female  charity,  the 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  509 

other,  the  bitter  fountain  of  many  tears,  by  his  becoming 
acquainted  with  a  most  unworthy  man,  whom  he  afterward 
admitted  to  the  ministry.  The  former  will  be  best  introduced 
by  inserting  here  an  extract  from  a  letter  to  his  wife,  dated  as 
follows :  — 

"  Newbury  port,  April  20,  1827. 
"My  Dear  Wife:  — 

"I  closed  my  last  letter  to  you  at  Mrs.  Carlisle's,  in  Salem. 
Yesterday  morning,  as  I  was  getting  into  the  coach  for  this 
place,  I  found  I  should  have  the  company  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Cutler,  of  Quincy,  going  to  the  State  of  Maine.  This  made 
my  little  journey  from  Salem  to  Newburyport  very  pleasant. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Morss,  and  lady,  received  me  with  great  kind- 
ness. They  have  nine  children,  all  born  since  I  was  last  in 
this  house,  (1806,)  and  yet  the  Dr.  looks  quite  young,  much 
as  he  used  to  do,  only  a  little  more  corpulent. 

"  And  now,  dear  wife,  I  have  a  story  to  tell  you,  by  way  of 
introduction  to  what  we  are  doing,  and  what  will  be  done,  in 
this  town. 

"  By  a  letter  or  letters  which  I  received  in  Boston,  I  was 
partially  apprized  of  the  formation  of  a  society  in  this  place 
for  the  aiding  of  our,  '  the  Ohio  cause.'  It  is  called  the  '  Ken- 
yon  Circle  of  Industry?  consisting  of  ladies  of  Newburyport, 
associated  to  promote  the  prosperity  of  Kenyon  college,  Ohio. 
I  say  I  had  heard  of  this  extraordinary  instance  of  goodness, 
but  I  had  little  idea  of  the  extent  to  which  the  little  work  of 
beneficence  had  been  carried.  When  I  arrived  at  Mr.  Morss', 
word  was  immediately  circulated  that  the  above  society  were 
requested  to  meet  at  his  house  in  the  evening,  and  when  the 
ladies  came  together,  1  was  surprised  to  find  them  so  numerous 
and  so  much  engaged.  The  room  was  quite  full,  the  number 
exceeding  forty.  They  told  me  that  the  occasion,  or  rather 
the  first  moving  cause,  of  the  associating  together  for  the 
above  purpose,  was  the  strong  impression  which  the  example 
of  Mary  Ohio  had  made  on  their  minds.  '  To  see  an  English 
female,  of  only  fifteen  or  sixteen  years  of  agr,  stepping  forward 
and  heading  the  ranks  of  charity,  and  inviting  by  her  zeal  and 
industry  so  many  of  her  pious  countrywomen  to  begin  and 

43* 


510  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

execute  a  work  so  disinterested,  and  of  such  extended  utility, 
was  enough,'  said  they,  ( to  awaken  hearts  of  stone.  And 
shall  we  of  America,  we  who  pretend  to  emulate  the  virtues, 
as  such,  of  our  mother  country,  shall  we  do  nothing  in  con- 
cert with  those  who  are  exercising  their  benevolence  directly 
for  our  benefit — the  lasting  benefit  of  so  many  millions  of  our 
own  countrymen?'  The  argument,  then,  once  suggested  and 
put  in  circulation,  was  irresistible,  and  the  result  most  pleas- 
ing. About  three  weeks  ago  the  formation  of  the  society  took 
place,  and  they  have  been  faithfully  and  successfully  employed 
ever  since.  What  the  exact  amount  of  their  industry  is,  I 
cannot  say ;  perhaps  it  is  not  much  when  compared  with  the 
gifts  of  the  rich  and  the  great,  yet  we  have  the  words  of  the 
blessed  Saviour  of  mankind,  to  incline  us  to  believe  that  it  will 
be  more  in  heavenly  estimation.  The  very  formation  of  the 
society  has  awakened  the  whole  town  to  a  due  consideration 
of  the  subject,  and  there  is  good  reason  to  believe  that  many 
will  be  incited  to  give  to  the  good  cause,  because  of  the  zeal 
of  these  pious  and  most  benevolent  ladies  of  Newburyport. 
Already  has  their  example  awakened  a  like  spirit  in  the  ladies 
of  Portland,  in  the  State  of  Maine,  who  have  formed  a  similar 
society,  and  (I  hear)  are  proceeding  on  in  the  same  steps  of 
benevolence." 

Soon  after  writing  the  letter  including  the  above  extract, 
the  following  correspondence  took  place :  — 

"  Newburyport ',  April  2%th)  1827. 
11  Right  Reverend  Sir  :  — 

"  The  circle  whom  you  have  kindly  honored  by  your  atten- 
tion aspire  only  to  contribute,  in  a  private  manner,  towards 
the  accomplishing  of  your  important  and  much-approved 
plans ;  if  we  may  speak  in  your  own  figurative  language,  we 
are  but  a  little  friendly  moss,  which  would  gladly  collect  a 
portion  of  dew  around  your  favorite  rose ;  yet,  in  compliance 
with  your  request,  we  offer  you  a  mention  of  circumstances 
which  led  to  our  association. 

"An  early  impulse  was  given  to  our  sympathy  for  the 
church  in  Ohio,  by  the  preaching  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Chase,  your 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  511 

son,  who  brought  your  first  appeal  in  its  behalf.  Various 
public  notices  of  your  own  exertions  had  subsequently  in- 
creased this  interest,  but  it  was  not  until  we  saw  the  letter  of 
Miss  Ward  that  the  thought  of  offering  our  assistance  to  this 
object  was  suggested.  We  should  not  have  presumed  to  sup- 
pose so  inconsiderable  a  cpntribution  as  our  slender  means 
can  furnish  worthy  of  your  acceptance,  had  we  not  seen  that 
the  small  sum  collected  by  the  young  lady  was  received  with 
kindness.  This  led  us  to  hope  that,  in  a  similar  manner,  we 
also  might  do  something  for  so  good  a  cause,  and  a  plan  for 
this  purpose  was  proposed  by  the  treasurer  of  our  circle,  in 
whom  these  accounts  had  excited  a  most  lively  interest.  By 
her  exertions,  a  society  was  formed  at  the  commencement  of 
this  year,  and,  giving  the  profits  of  our  industry  for  some 
hours  in  every  week,  we  have  met  once  a  fortnight,  often  ren- 
dering our  meetings  interesting  by  the  perusal  of  your  publi- 
cations concerning  Kenyon  college.  Our  friends  have  kindly 
lent  us  some  assistance,  and  we  have  found  an  interest  for 
this  object  constantly  increasing ;  several  children  have  been 
pleased  to  offer  us  their  mite,  and  one  little  boy  of  six  years, 
excited  by  hearing  your  plea,  brought  us  the  whole  of  his  little 
stock  of  money,  while  another  older  lad  gave  us  the  whole  of 
his  quarterly  allowance. 

"  Thus,  sir,  have  we  been  encouraged  to  continue  our 
endeavors,  and  we  now  offer  you  their  result,  with  our  earnest 
wishes  for  the  success  of  your  benevolent  exertions. 

"We  ask,  also,  your  own  acceptance  of  the  purse  which 
encloses  it,  as  a  trifling  testimony  to  yourself  of  our  grateful 
acknowledgment  of  your  condescension,  our  respect,  and  our 
wishes  for  your  own  health  and  prosperity. 

"  On  behalf  of  the  Kenyon  Circle, 
"  Right  Reverend  Sir, 

"  Yours,  most  respectfully, 

"Mary  J.  Woart,  Secretary. 

"  Ri^ht  Reverend  Philander  Chase." 


512  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

ANSWER. 

"  Newburyport,  May  llth,  1827. 
"  To  the  Ladies  of  Kenyon  Circle,  in  Newbury  port. 
"  Dear  Ladies  :  — 

"  With  a  heart  overflowing  with  most  pleasing  and  grateful 
emotions,  I  write  this  hasty  note,  for  want  of  time  to  compose 
a  better,  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  very  excellent  and 
most  affectionate  letter  of  the  28th  of  April,  enclosing  fifty-Jive 
dollars,  as  the  result  of  your  most  benevolent  association  for 
the  benefit  of  Kenyon  college. 

"  The  history  of  your  formation  most  deeply  affects  me, 
especially  that  circumstance  which  relates  to  my  most  beloved 
and  now  sainted  son.  His  last  prayer  was  for  blessings  on  the 
Church  of  Christ,  especially  that  God  would  send  the  dews  of 
his  heavenly  favor  on  that  'rose  in  the  west,'  our  seminary  of 
learning  and  piety,  now  called  Kenyon  college.  You,  dear 
ladies,  were  the  instruments  of  its  fulfilment.  Surely  God 
will  bless  and  reward  you. 

"What  you  say  of  that  most  interesting  young  lady,  Mary 
Ward,  so  distinguished  for  her  zeal  in  the  cause  which  carried 
me  to  England,  is  highly  gratifying  to  all  who  know  her. 
How  will  her  friends,  and  those  who  have  taken  an  interest  in 
the  prosperity  of  our  college,  in  England,  rejoice  to  find  that 
the  meek  zeal  of  '  Mary  Ohio '  (as  she  is  appropriately  called 
by  her  excellent  father)  has  communicated  its  genial  influence 
to  the  bosoms  of  some  of  our  American  ladies.  When  the 
fragrance  of  only  one  so  modest  and  lovely  a  flower  has 
served  so  good  a  purpose  as  that  of  awakening  so  many  to 
imitate  her  endearing  virtues,  what  may  not  be  reasonably 
hoped  for,  when  your  praiseworthy  example,  and  that  of  the 
ladies  in  Gardiner  and  Portland,  shall  have  been  duly  known 
throughout  our  land  ? 

"  I  assure  you  that  I  am  most  pleasingly  impressed  at  the 
exercise  of  a  very  benevolent  disposition  in  the  dear  young 
boys  which  you  mention ;  please  give  my  best  love  to  them. 
Most  earnestly  do  I  pray  God  to  bless  them,  and  you,  and  all 
who,  by  good  deeds,  faithfully  serve  our  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ. 


bishop  chase's  reminiscences.  513 

"  Ladies  of  Kenyon  Circle,  Newburyport,  I  am  your  most 

faithful  and  grateful  friend,  and  servant, 

"  Philander  Chase." 

"  Salem,  May  2d,  1827. 
"  Right  Reverend  and  Dear  Bishop  Chase  :  — 

"Your  late  visit  to  our  town  and  family  has  excited  in  our 
parents  and  self  the  liveliest  emotions  of  pleasure.  When  we 
reflect  upon  the  object  of  your  visit,  in  a  moral,  intellectual, 
and  religious  point  of  view,  it  overwhelms  us  with  its  magni- 
tude. "The  wonderful  success  and  merciful  providences  which 
have  hitherto  marked  your  progress  in  your  journeyings, 
clearly  evince  that  the  blessings  of  Heaven  attend  you. 

"  Miss  Ann  M.  Rust,  a  member  of  our  Church,  feeling  a 
lively  interest  in  the  success  of  Kenyon  college,  has  permitted 
me  to  unite  with  her  in  offering  for  your  acceptance  a  pair  of 
eighteen  inrh  aoouiato  English  globes,  with  the  assurance  of 
our  respect  and  esteem.  And  now,  Right  Reverend  and  dear 
sir,  I  will  trespass  no  longer  upon  your  time,  only  to  offer  you 
our  ardent  wishes  for  the  success  of  your  establishment  in  the 
west,  and  that  the  great  Bishop  of  souls  may  preserve  your 
life  and  health  long  after  Kenyon  college  becomes  as  flour- 
ishing as  any  similar  institution  in  our  country. 

"  My  parents  unite  with  me,  in  wishing  you  a  safe  journey 
home,  and  that  you  may  find  your  family  in  the  enjoyment  of 
health  and  happiness,  which  we  pray  may  be  long  continued. 

"I  am,  dear  Bishop,  your  friend,  &c., 

"Susan  F.  Treadwell." 

"Boston,  May  5th,  1827. 

"Dear  Susan:  — 

"I  feel  most  sincerely  thankful  to  yourself  and  Miss  Ann 
M.  Rust,  for  the  very  valuable  present  of  a  pair  of  eighteen 
inch  globes,  for  the  benefit  of  Kenyon  college,  Ohio.  May 
God  reward  you,  dear  ladies,  for  this  instance  of  your  bounty. 

"The  mention  you  make  of  my  reception  In  England,  and 
of  the  subsequent  kindness  I  received  from  my  excellent 
friends  there,  is  very  acceptable  to  my  grateful  JMtft  That 
you  will  Join  me  in  most  devout  prayer  for  blessings  on  those 


514  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

who  saved  me  when  ready  to  perish,  I  have  little  doubt.     If 
you  forget  all  others,  remember  dear  '  Mary  Ohio.'' 

"  For  the  kind  wishes  of  your  loved  parents  for  my  wel- 
fare, as  well  as  for  their  most  hospitable  treatment  to  me  when 
at  your  house,  I  am  very  thankful.  May  the  angels  of  God's 
mercy  watch  over  them  and  you,  and  all  who  cover  with  a 
veil  of  charity  the  many  faults  of  their  and  your  humble  and 
faithful 

"  Friend  and  servant, 

"  Philander  Chase." 

In  1827,  such  instances  of  female  exertion,  to  spread  the 
means  of  grace  and  promote  Christian  unity,  were  rarely 
found  in  the  Episcopal  Church. 

If  the  ladies  in  the  cities  above  mentioned  were  suprised  at 
the  pious  zeal  of  Mary  Caroline  Ward,  of  Great  Horksley,  in 
Old  England,  in  behalf  of  an  institution  m  America,  more 
reason  ot  surprise  was  ihere  at  that  day,  that  Kenyon  Circles 
should  in  so  many  places  be  organized  after  her  example. 

Then  a  truly  self-denying  missionary  spirit  was  a  tender 
plant  in  the  Episcopal  Church,  often  blasted  by  the  breath  of 
covetousness  and  the  fear  of  ridicule.  In  the  instances  above 
mentioned  it  survived  the  shock  of  opposition,  and  waxing 
strong  as  it  grew,  and  striking  deep  its  roots  into  the  hearts  of 
the  reflecting  and  pious  portion  of  the  community,  it  has 
never  ceased  to  bring  forth  much  salutary  fruit.  Surely  the 
writer  has  reason  to  bless  God  for  putting  it  into  the  heart  of 
Miss  Mary  J.  Woart  to  form  the  "Kenyon  Circle  of  New- 
buryport."  From  that  little  fountain  have  issued  the  streams, 
which  in  their  courses  have  not  only  refreshed  Ohio,  and  other 
parts  of  the  west,  but  have  irrigated  the  parched  prairies  of 
Illinois.  The  writer  firmly  believes,  that,  by  the  good  exam- 
ple thus  set,  others  have  been  incited  to  hold  up  his  hands  in 
subsequent  periods  of  his  eventful  life,  and  that  even  now,  he 
is  kept  from  sinking  under  the  load  of  recent  duty  imposed  on 
him  by  the  hand  of  Providence.  But  this  is  outstripping  the 
natural  speed  of  time.  He  will  return  to  a  more  painful  sub- 
ject of  his  narrative. 

While  the  writer  was  in  New  England,  in  the  year  of  our 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  515 

Lord,  1827,  somewhere  in  the  month  of  March  or  April,  a 
person  by  the  name  of  George  Montgomery  West  introduced 
himself  to  his  notice.  He  came  fresh  from  Old  England,  with 
letters  from  the  writer's  dearest,  most  esteemed  friends,  the 
object  of  which  was,  to  have  him  immediately  ordained  in 
America,  and  then,  as  an  Ohio  clergyman,  return  to  England, 
and  there,  and  in  his  native  island,  make  collections  to  pro- 
mote emigration,  and  thus  essentially  benefit  the  grand  design 
of  building  up  the  seminary,  now  the  centre  of  so  many  and 
so  fervent  good  wishes. 

The  most  unequivocal  assurances  of  good  character  were 
given  in  all  the  letters  which  he  brought,  so  that  there  seemed 
nothing  wanting  but  the  writer's  consent,  and  that  of  his  stand- 
ing committee  in  Ohio,  to  have  the  plan  at  once  consummated, 
and  the  man  put  on  his  way  back  to  England,  and  there  to 
enter  on  his  work  of  beneficence. 

But  this  consent  was  not  yet  obtained,  and  the  project 
would  have  been  quashed  in  embryo,  had  not  the  writer  pre- 
viously obtained  the  concurring  voice  of  his  brethren  of  the 
Episcopal  bench,  on  whose  judgment,  being  entirely  disinter- 
ested, he  had  more  reason  to  rely  than  on  his  own. 

G.  M.  West  was  directed  to  go  on  to  Ohio,  and  there  wait 
till  further  counsels  were  matured.  In  the  mean  time,  the 
writer  repaired  to  Bristol,  Rhode  Island,  to  consult  good 
Bishop  Griswold.  Here  he  found  him,  and  after  having 
showed  him  all  the  letters  from  England,  and  explained  the 
whole  case,  received  from  him  the  following  certificate  of  his 
opinion  and  advice:  — 

"After  considering  the  question  respecting  the  ordination  of 
Mr.  G.  M.  West,  it  is  my  opinion  that  he  may  be  admitted  to 
orders,  under  the  provision  of  the  seventeenth  canon,  without 
violating  the  letter  of  any  of  our  prescribed  rules.  And  as  I 
know  of  no  usage  or  precedent  to  the  contrary,  and  so  far  as 
I  understand  the  case,  expediency  requiring  it,  I  recommend 
that  he  be  admitted  to  orders. 

"  Alexander  V.  Griswold. 

"Bristol,  R.  /.,  May  17th,  1827." 


516  BISHOP   chase's   reminiscences. 

With  the  above  certificate,  the  writer  proceeded  to  Hartford, 
Connecticut,  and  laid  the  whole  matter  before  Bishop  Brow- 
nell,  and  received  the  following  from  under  his  hand :  — 

"  Having  seen  the  letters  from  several  noblemen  and  gentle- 
men of  Great  Britain,  directed  to  the  Right  Reverend  Bishop 
Chase,  in  approbation  of  the  character  of  George  M.  West,  a 
minister  of  the  Wesleyan  connection,  in  Ireland,  I  concur  in 
opinion  with  Bishop  Griswold,  that  there  are  no  canonical 
impediments  to  his  admission  to  holy  orders,  by  Bishop  Chase. 

"  Thomas  Brownell. 

"Hartford,  May  20th,  1827." 


CHAPTER    XLIV. 

THE   LAYING  OF  THE    CORNER-STONE  OF  THE    THEOLOGICAL    SEB1INARY 

AND  KENYON    COLLEGE EXTRACT    FROM  A  SERMON    PREACHED  ON 

THE    BANKS    OF    VERNON    RIVER    ON    THAT    OCCASION FOURTH    OF 

JULY  —  USE    OF    THE   MONITOR PETITION   FOR   WHISKEY LET- 
TERS. 

The  Theological  Seminary  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  of  the  Diocese  of  Ohio  was  fixed  on  a  site  named  by 
the  writer  Gambier,  in  honor  of  his  pious  and  noble  friend  of 
that  name.  On  this  site,  most  beautiful  and  commanding  in 
its  prospect,  was  located,  and  to  be  erected,  a  main  building 
of  the  seminary,  called  Kenyon  college,  after  a  no  less  beloved 
and  esteemed  noble  friend  of  the  writer,  Lord  George  Kenyon, 
the  worthy  heir  of  the  honors  and  titles  of  the  celebrated  Lord 
Chief  Justice  Kenyon,  of  England.  The  engraving  of  this 
building  had  been  taken  at  the  east,  and  highly  approved,  and 
the  commencement  thereof,  in  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone, 
became  an  object  of  deep  solicitude.  Giving  an  account  of 
this  transaction,  the  writer  spoke  as  follows :  — 

"  Having  appointed  the  first  week  in  June  for  that  purpose, 
I  was  permitted  to  be  on  the  spot,  and  though  unworthy  of 
the  least  of  God's  favors,  yet,  through  the  merits  of  the 
Redeemer  of  mankind,  I  was  honored  with  that  which  might 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  517 

honor  those  who  are  inexpressibly  more  honorable  than  my- 
self, —  the  office  of  laying  the  corner-stone  at  once  of  Kenyon 
college,  and  the  Theological  Seminary  of  the  Diocese  of  Ohio, 
on  Gambier  hill.  In  performing  this  duty,  I  cannot  frame  my 
speech  so  as  to  express  a  but  faint  resemblance  of  my  feelings. 
The  signal  mercies  of  the  past,  in  rescuing  me  from  so  many 
perils  and  in  overcoming  so  much  opposition,  and  the  count- 
less blessings  of  the  future  to  the  Church  of  Christ  in  our  dear 
country,  of  which  this  institution  must  by  the  laws  of  Holy 
Providence,  be  the  means  of  producing,  in  ages  yet  to  come 
rushed  on  my  mind,  and  raised  (as  the  swelling  flood  raises 
the  ship  on  its  bosom)  my  whole  soul  in  gratitude  to  God,  the 
Almighty  disposer  of  events,  and  the  fountain  of  all  mercies. 
Though  surrounded  by  a  very  great  company  of  spectators  to 
the  eventful  scene,  the  whole  seemed  to  me  as  the  wilderness 
did  to  Jacob  at  Bethel  —  swallowed  up  in  a  deep  sense  of 
God's  presence,  filling  all  things,  connecting  earth  with 
heaven;  and,  in  prospect  of  future  blessings,  prompting  the 
same  expressions  which  he  uttered,  when,  forgetful  of  all  his 
earthly  troubles  and  rapt  into  ecstasy  divine,  he  exclaimed, 
'  Surely  the  Lord  is  in  this  place,  this  is  none  other  than  the 
house  of  God,  and  this  the  gate  of  heaven.' 

"  The  building  thus  commenced  is  but  the  centre  of  the 
whole  design,  being  only  one  hundred  and  ten  feet  long,  by 
forty-four  broad.  The  two  wings  will  be  one  hundred  and 
seventy-four  feet  each,  and  the  whole,  with  the  basement,  four 
stories  high. 

"  To  support  such  a  building,  all  of  stone,  the  outside  and 
centre  walls  will  be  no  less  than  four  feet  thick. 

"In  delineating  the  plan  of  this  edifice,  no  time  nor  pains 
had  been  spared  in  causing  it  to  combine  every  convenience 
which  economy  could  justify.  Having  it  in  your  power  to 
witness  in  your  own  persons  the  progress  of  this  work,  I 
should  here  say  nothing  to  you  on  this  subject" 

What  is  alluded  to  in  tin-  foregoing  extracts  of  the  members 
of  the  convention  "having  it  in  their  power  to  witness,  in 
their  own   p<  rsons,  tin  -  progress  of  the  work,  and  of  visiting 

the  college  grounds,"  may  be  explained  by  noticing  thai  this 

11 


518  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

address  was  delivered  in  Mount  Vernon,  about  five  miles  from 
the  college  land,  a  village  designedly  selected  for  the  meeting 
of  the  convention,  that  the  members  might  see  and  take  an 
interest  in  all  that  concerned  the  institution,  for  it  was  well 
known  that  jealousies  and  prejudices  still  lingered  in  the 
bosoms  of  many.  The  cities  could  not  abide  the  thought  that 
an  institution  of  such  magnitude  should  be  taken  from  them, 
and  built  up  from  the  stump  without  their  agency  or  influ- 
ence. Many  stood  ready  to  find  fault  with  the  proceedings  at 
every  step,  and  still  more  had  predicted  its  final  ruin.  And 
when  such  sentiments  prevail  among  respectable  citizens,  it  is 
not  strange  they  should  find  entertainment  in  the  bosom  of  the 
many,  and  thus  account  for  that  apathy  touching  the  project 
of  the  seminary,  and  the  fact  of  its  founder  being  left  alone  on 
the  college  hill,  amidst  the  trying  scenes  of  setting  many  men 
to  work,  with  but  little  to  work  with. 

"There  he  is,"  said  they,  "without  houses,  and  without 
timber  to  make  them,  with  no  friend  to  help  bear  the  burden, 
and  with  scarcely  a  roof  to  cover  him  or  to  shelter  his  hired 
men.  There  he  is  carrying  on  a  project  of  his  own,  and  sink- 
ing under  difficulties  which  he  himself  has  created.  Let  him 
come  down  from  the  college  hill  in  the  woods,  to  our  towns, 
and  we  will  assist  him.  As  it  is,  let  him  assist  himself,  or  fail 
in  the  attempt."  Except  in  a  few  instances,  as  in  Steuben- 
ville,  of  men  of  liberal  minds,  few  wished  him  well,  and 
still  fewer  came  to  see  him.  Even  the  members  of  the  con- 
vention could  scarcely  be  persuaded  to  turn  a  complacent  eye 
on  the  project,  although  the  same  seemed  in  all  things  (but 
the  sufferings  of  its  founder)  to  be  in  the  full  tide  of  experi- 
mental success. 

The  writer's  family,  and  all  the  students,  came  up  from 
Worth ington  to  witness  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  of  Ken- 
yon  college  on  Gambier  hill.  To  this  allusion  has  already 
been  made,  but  not  to  the  sermon  preached  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Morse,  of  Steubenville,  on  the  solemn  occasion,  under  the 
shade  of  the  sugar-maple  trees,  on  the  banks  of  Vernon  river, 
to  a  large  assemblage  of  people.  Few  discourses  discover  a 
more  perfect  Christian  taste,  or  a  purer  flame  of  ardent  piety. 
The  following  extract  is  so  appropriate,  as  well  as  so  excel- 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  519 

lent  in  itself,  that  to  omit  it  would  be  to  mar  the  face  of  this 
memoir  by  leaving  out  what  is  essential  to  its  beauty.  It  is 
the  third  head  of  his  discourse,  and  closes  with  the  words  of 
the  text : 

"  There  is  yet  another  claim  of  this  institution  on  our  patron- 
age and  support,  arising  from  a  consideration  of  the  peculiar 
circumstances  under  which  it  was  established,  and  from  the 
present  state  and  future  prospects  of  the  western  country.  It 
may  be  presumed,  from  the  fact  that  the  fund  for  the  endow- 
ment of  this  seminary  and  college,  having  been  principally 
derived  from  a  foreign  source,  from  the  charitable  beneficence 
of  far  distant  friends,  it  will  therefore  present  a  stronger  claim, 
from  this  circumstance,  upon  our  affectionate  regards  and  our 
most  zealous  exertions.  We  should  prove  ourselves  unworthy 
of  the  munificence  of  our  transatlantic  brethren,  if  we  do  not 
most  thankfully  receive  and  faithfully  improve  their  benefac- 
tions to  the  sacred  objects  for  which  they  were  bestowed. 
And  here  let  me  ask,  shall  Christians  thus  far  distant,  Chris- 
tians separated  from  each  other  by- half  the  intervening  globe, 
do  so  much  for  the  benefit  of  ourselves,  and  our  offspring,  while 
we  do  nothing,  or  next  to  nothing?  It  is  true,  our  means  are 
less,  far  less  than  theirs :  but  we  should  remember  that  the 
widow's  mite  was  accepted  and  rewarded,  as  well  as  the  rich- 
est offering.  We  should  remember,  too,  that  small  benefac- 
tions become  great  in  their  aggregate.  Behold  this  stream  •* 
trace  it  upwards  to  its  source,  and  it  will  be  found  to  issue 
from  a  single  spring  in  the  far  distant  forest.  Follow  it  on- 
ward in  its  progress,  and  you  will  find  it  uniting  its  tributary 
waters  with  the  fair  Ohio,  and  the  majestic  Mississippi.  Such, 
brethren,  is  Christian  charity.  As  it  is  from  numerous  and 
small  fountains  that  the  mighty  river  is  derived  which  bears 
on  its  bosom  the  wealth  of  foreign  shores,  and  at  the  same 
time  blesses  and  fertilizes  the  region  through  which  it  il«>ws, 
bo,  in  like  manner,  it  is  from  numerous  and  small  benefactions 
that  the  stream  of  benevolence  is  swelled,  till  it  rolls  on  to- 
wards the  ocean  of  eternity,  bearing  on  its  broad  tide  the  fruits 

*  Vernon  river. 


520  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

of  Christian  piety,  watering  each  thirsty  land,  and  making 
glad  the  city  of  onr  God.  Who,  then,  would  not  choose  to 
aid  in  that  glorious  work  which  shall  cause  righteousness  and 
peace  to  flow  down  as  rivers  in  a  dry  place  ?  Who  does  not 
feel  himself  honored  in  being  thus  permitted  to  assist  in  evan- 
gelizing the  earth?  And  who  will  not  rejoice  at  the  last  day 
to  hear  it  said  unto  himself  by  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  '  In- 
asmuch as  ye  did  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these  my  breth- 
ren, ye  did  it  unto  me.'  l  Come,  ye  blessed  of  my  Father, 
inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation  of 
the  world.'  To  the  numerous  benefactors  of  this  institution, 
both  at  home  and  abroad,  language  is  inadequate  to  express 
our  obligations  and  our  gratitude.  The  good  deeds  they  have 
done  are  written  on  our  hearts,  they  are  engraved  in  our 
memories ;  we  trust  also  that  they  are  written  and  engraved 
even  in  the  book  of  God's  remembrance  for  evermore.  Yes, 
brethren,  for 

<  The  quality  of  this  mercy  is  not  strained, 
It  droppeth  as  the  gentle  rain  from  heaven 
Upon  the  place  beneath ;   it  is  twice  blessed, 
It  blesseth  him  that  gives  and  him  that  takes.' 

"In  conclusion  of  this  part  of  our  subject,  it  may  be  ob- 
served, that  the  present  condition  of  our  country  in  general, 
and  of  the  western  states  in  particular,  renders  the  foundation 
of  public  institutions  for  the  promotion  of  literature  and 
religion  peculiarly  important  and  necessary  to  the  present 
well-being  and  the  future  prosperity  of  our  country.  The 
world  need  not  now  be  told  that  in  the  western  wilderness,  as 
it  was  once  called,  the  means  of  piety  and  learning  have  not 
kept  pace  with  the  progress  of  population  and  the  rapidity  of 
settlement ;  this  fact  is  but  too  well  known.  But  it  may  be 
interesting  to  ourselves,  and  gratifying  unto  others,  to  know 
in  what  manner  this  evil  may  be  remedied,  and  the  deficiency 
supplied.  On  all  hands  it  is  acknowledged  that  something 
ought  to  be  done,  and  done  speedily,  too,  to  stop  the  torrent 
of  ignorance  and  immorality  which  prevails  and  threatens  to 
overwhelm  our  land.     All  grant  some  restraint  should  be 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  521 

applied,  some  barrier  interposed,  before  the  deluge  become 
irremediable. 

"  And  how  shall  this  be  done,  but  by  sending  forth  a  succes- 
sion of  those  who,  by  Christian  education  and  a  cultivated 
talent,  under  divine  grace,  shall  be  able  to  stop  the  torrent? 
Those  who  shall  lend  the  weight  of  their  influence  and  exam- 
ple to  the  interests  of  piety  and  learning,  and  cause  virtue  and 
religion  to  predominate  over  vice  and  ignorance,  and  triumph 
against  every  opposer,  against  every  attempt  of  the  prince  of 
darkness,  or  his  infidel  coadjutors,  to  waste  and  destroy  the 
heritage  of  God.  In  regard  to  the  western  states,  in  particu- 
lar, it  is  well  known  that  'the  progress  of  settlement  has, 
hitherto,  far  outstripped  the  means  of  religion  and  learning.' 
We  have  at  present  a  population  educated  under  superior 
advantages  to  what  can  be  here  enjoyed,  they  having  emi- 
grated from  other  and  more  favored  regions ;  but  another  gen- 
eration is  now  advancing  into  life,  who  must  be  educated  here; 
and  unless  means  for  this  end  are  provided,  unless  facilities 
for  this  purpose  are  afforded  in  the  land  which  gave  them 
birth,  a  deterioration  both  in  knowledge  and  religion  will 
take  place,  too  painful  to  describe.  As  has  been  truly  ob- 
served, '  The  son,  except  in  a  very  few  instances,  knows  not, 
nor,  unless  something  more  is  speedily  done,  is  he  ever  likely 
to  know,  what  his  father  knew.'  To  remedy  and  prevent 
these  dreadful  evils,  ignorance  and  ir religion,  this  institution 
and  college  has  been  established,  in  which  the  sons  of  the  soil 
may  be  educated  at  an  expense  within  their  reach,  and  in 
habits  suited  to  their  sphere  of  life.  What  parent  does  not 
rejoice  in  the  prospect  which  it  opens!  What  patriot  or  phi- 
lanthropist, above  all,  what  Christian,  is  not  ready  to  say, 
'God  speed,'  success  and  prosperity  to  the  work!  In  short, 
who  is  not  ready  to  exclaim,  in  the  language  of  the  text,  in 
reference  to  this  subject,  and  in  direct  application  to  the  cir- 
cumstances on  this  occasion — '  Let  thy  work  appear  unto 
thy  servants,  and  thy  glory  unto  their  children!  Let  the 
l><  finty  of  the  Lord  our  God  be  upon  us.  and  establish  thou  the 
work  of  our  hands  upon  us,  yca,»the  work  of  our  hands  estab- 
lish thou  it.'  " 

44* 


522  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

So  entirely  was  the  writer  occupied  in  his  manifold  duties 
of  watching  over  the  destinies  of  the  theological  seminary  on 
Gambier  hill,  that  but  few  records  were  kept  of  the  succes- 
sion of  particular  religious  services  in  the  neighborhood. 

It  appears,  however,  that  the  writer  was  in  Mount  Vernon 
on  Sunday,  the  10th  of  June,  and  the  17th  in  Delaware,  at 
which  latter  place  he  consecrated  St.  Peter's  church,  a  neat 
little  building,  to  the  erection  of  which  he  had  appropriated 
one  hundred  dollars  of  Lady  Rosse's  bounty.  Here  he  or- 
dained a  deacon,  and  admitted  G.  M.  West  to  full  orders. 
The  same  night  he  rode  to  Worthington,  and  preached  in  the 
evening.  The  pleasure  of  seeing  the  students  all  in  church, 
and  of  witnessing  their  good  conduct  in  the  little,  now  crowded, 
establishment,  at  his  own  residence,  was  exceedingly  great. 
There  he  found  his  wife,  who  had  returned  immediately  from 
Mount  Vernon,  now  busy  in  superintending  the  domestic 
establishment,  and  keeping  all  things  in  their  place.  It  was 
evident  that  had  her  judgment  and  constant  services  been 
wanting  at  this  very  difficult  period  of  time,  the  whole  flock 
of  boys  would  have  been  scattered,  so  that  the  shepherd's  care 
could  scarcely  have  collected  them  again  for  the  fold  prepar- 
ing for  them  at  Gambier;  and  had  the  same  continuity  of 
domestic  care  been  wanting  there,  the  whole  scheme  would 
have  proved  abortive. 

It  is  said  of  John  Wesley,  that  he  had  collected  much  money 
from  his  rich  friends  to  found  a  school  in  England,  but  all  to 
no  purpose.  When  asked  the  reason,  he  answered  that  "  the 
maids  could  not  agree."  Perhaps,  if  the  truth  were  known, 
this  would  frequently  be  found  at  the  bottom  of  the  chief  cause 
of  failure  in  the  incipient  stages  of  like  establishments.  Their 
domestic  concerns  are  not  managed  rightly.  The  mainspring 
is  wisdom,  joined  to  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit,  and  the  founda- 
tion of  the  whole  is  the  fear  of  God.  Wherever  this  is  want- 
ing, in  the  head  of  any  department,  success  is  doubtful. 

From  Worthington  the  writer  returned  to  the  performance 
of  his  manifold  duties  at  Gambier.  In  passing  thither,  through 
Mount  Vernon,  he  stayed  all  night  with  his  friend,  Mr.  Ban- 
ning. What  reason  he  has  to  recur,  with  feelings  of  the  deep- 
est regret,  to  the  devotional  exercises  of  the  following  morning, 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  523 

which  took  place  in  Mr.  Banning' s  chamber,  in  company  with 
the  person  whom  he  had  lately  ordained,  George  Montgomery 
West,  the  reader  will  hereafter  be  informed. 

The  remainder  of  this  month,  and  much  of  the  succeeding 
one,  was  spent  on  Gambier  hill,  where  he  had  many  things 
to  do,  and  little  to  do  with.  To  collect  suitable  mechanics, 
such,  especially,  as  could  forego  the  use  of  whiskey,  and 
pay  them,  needed  much  circumspection  and  forethought, 
joined  with  incessant  correspondence  by  letter.  The  oversee- 
ing of  the  overseers,  commonly  called  the  head  men,  there 
being  one  to  every  department  of  labor,  was  no  small  task, 
yet  this  was  done  every  evening.  The  clerk  appeared  with 
his  book,  the  head  carpenter,  the  head  mason,  the  head  team- 
ster, and  the  head  quarrier  appeared,  also,  and  gave  in  the 
work  of  all  who  had  respectively  been  under  their  care  that 
day,  and  the  same  was  recorded ;  and  it  is  worthy  of  remark, 
that  such  was  the  general  opinion  of  justice  in  these  decisions, 
although  the  hands  were  frequently  docked,  that  there  were 
seldom  any  complaints. 

"Gambier,  Kenyon  College,  July  llth,  1827. 
"My  Dear  Wife:  — 

"I  was  delighted  with  your  last  letter,  about  the  4th  of 
July,  but  with  nothing  more  than  with  the  small  ingredient 
of  religion  which  Mr.  S.  and  Mr.  W.  were  so  good  as  to  throw 
into  the  cup  of  festive  enjoyment.  Would  that  this  day,  which 
is  the  occasion  of  much  intemperance  and  blasphemy  in  our 
land,  were  made  in  some  sense  subservient  to  the  cause  of 
religion  !  The  devil  has  stolen  from  us,  I  mean  from  our 
country  in  general,  Christmas,  the  day  of  our  spiritual  redemp- 
tion, and  converted  it  into  a  day  of  worldly  festivity,  shooting 
and  swearing;  why  cannot  we  make  reprisal,  and  take  from 
him  this  4th  of  July,  in  which  our  civil  freedom  was  declared! 
Our  Church  endeavored  to  do  it  in  ;  the  proposed  prayer-book* 
A  service  to  Almighty  God,  appropriate  to  this  day  of  our 
national  independence,  was  set  forth;  but  it  failed,  on  the 
ground  that  each  minister  might  do  as  he  pleased.  As  our 
seminary  is  pledged  to  Almighty  God,  as  dedicated  to  religion, 


524  BISHOP   chase's   reminiscences. 

I  do  hope  we  shall  try  to  introduce  it  on  all  proper  occasions; 
and  it  gave  me  no  little  pleasure,  that  Mr.  S.,  our  professor, 
stood  up  in  its  favor  on  this  occasion ;  but  I  should  have  been 
better  pleased  if  he  had  insisted  on  the  performance  of  the 
'morning  prayer,'  and  the  reading  of  some  appropriate  les- 
sons, and  on  what  I  think  would  have  been  a  great  propriety, 
I  mean  his  and  the  family's  presence  at  dinner.  I  was  hurt 
at  the  circumstance  of  turning  the  boys  over  to  themselves;  if 
there  was  anything  unfit  for  him,  or  you,  or  any,  to  see  or 
hear,  it  ought  not  to  have  been  permitted. 

"  When  I  was  at  home,  I  was  sorry  to  find  that  the  order 
of  each  having  his  Bible,  and  attending  to  the  chapter  with  his 
personal  inspection,  was  laid  aside ;  amidst  the  ten  thousand 
things  which  then  pressed  upon  me,  I  forgot  to  mention  this. 
Cannot  this,  which  I  deem  a  great  means  of  fixing  the  wander- 
ing eye  and  the  idle  mind  on  the  great  duty  before  them,  be 
again  revived  ? 

"  Another  thing  I  did  not  see  when  at  home ;  I  mean  the 
continuation  of  our  morning  verses  from  the  Bible,  the  moni- 
tor, and  some  comments  on  them.  When  begging  at  the  east, 
and  when  asked  what  features  our  seminary  or  college  would 
have,  peculiarly  Christian,  I  mentioned  this  among  many  others. 
I  had  rather  give  up  a  little  of  the  heathen  study,  than  this ; 
instead  of  growing  lax  on  this  subject  so  soon,  I  think  God's 
favors  to  us  ought  to  prompt  us  rather  to  devise  other  means 
of  mingling  religion  with  all  we  do.  Indeed,  this  world,  and 
all  things  which  pertain  to  it,  have  no  value  but  as  it  respects 
eternity.  I  feel  this  more  and  more,  and  we  who  do  feel  it 
(I  mean  the  president  and  professors  of  Kenyon  college,  for 
if  we  do  not  feel  this  truth,  we  ought  not  to  be  in  our  stations; 
according  to  our  foundation,  we  ought  to  quit  our  posts,  not 
as  a  matter  of  propriety,  but  of  imperious  justice)  should  act 
accordingly.  If  we  do  not,  we  surrender  the  ark  into  the 
hands  of  the  Philistines  ;  we  betray  the  trust  committed  to  our 
charge,  and  God  will  bring  us  to  an  account. 

"  Nothing  has  any  value  but  eternity,  and  if  our  regulations 
do  not  have  reference  to  that,  we  lose  the  chief  end  of  our 
being.     If  this  principle  be  not  acted  upon,  as  well  as  professed, 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  525 

I  have  labored  to  little  purpose,  and  a  solemn  contract  with 
mankind,  and  a  holy  covenant  with  God,  is  broken. 
"  Your  faithful  and  affectionate  husband, 

"Philander  Chase. 

"  P.  S.  I  wish  you  to  copy  and  to  show  the  parts  of  this 
letter  which  speak  of  the  interest  of  Kenyon  college  to  Mr. 
S.  Mr.  W.,  Mr.  A.  I  feel  something  within  me  that  tells  me 
that  to  speak  more  plainly  to  them  on  these  subjects  is  my 
duty." 

PETITION   FOR   WHISKEY. 

I.  H.  was  the  head  carpenter  on  Gambier  hill,  and  often 
was  he  with  the  writer  in  consultation  on  the  ways  and  means 
of  proceeding  with  the  buildings.  On  entering  the  college 
service,  he  had  agreed,  as  all  the  rest  had  agreed,  to  refrain 
from  the  use  of  spirituous  liquors.  The  writer  thought  him 
friendly  to  this  measure,  and  as  he  was  a  "  Baptist  messen- 
ger," that  he  would  second  the  views  of  the  Bishop  in  pro- 
moting temperance.  But  in  this  there  was  sad  disappointment. 
What  with  the  love  of  liquor,  the  fondness  of  being  the  head 
of  a  party  to  maintain  the  "unalienable  rights  of  the  op- 
pressed people,"  and  the  desire  of  humbling  the  Bishop,  the 
promise  made  when  he  came  on  the  hill  was  laid  aside,  and  a 
combination  with  the  hands  was  formed,  and  their  grievances 
were  made  known  by  petition.  Mr.  H.  was  the  "  scribe,"  and 
the  first  to  subscribe ;  and  a  majority  of  the  rest,  to  the  num- 
ber of  nineteen,  chief  men  of  the  company,  "  men  of  renown," 
followed  his  example.  This  famous  petition  was  in  the  fol- 
lowing words:  — 

"To  the  Rt.  Rev.  Philander  Chase: 

u  Sir,  — We,  the  undersigned,  being  mechanics  and  laborers 
under  your  employ,  have  agreed,  after  mature  reflection,  and 
a  consultation  held  upon  the  subject,  t«>  address  you  a  line  by 
way  of  petition,  thereby  to  make  known  to  you  our  united 
request,  which  request,  we  presume  to  think,  aud  humbly 
mist,  will  not  l»e  by  you  considered  unreasonable;  and  from 
many  considerations  we  are  inclined  to  believe  it  not  only 


52G  BISHOP   chase's    reminiscences. 

necessary,  but  certainly  beneficial,  both  for  the  preservation 
of  our  health  and  the  forwarding  of  the  business  in  which  we 
are  engaged. 

"  Request  is  as  follows :  That  you  will  grant  us  the  use  of 
spirituous  liquors  three  times  in  each  day,  while  we  may  be 
occupied  in  your  service,  in  quantity  one  small  glass  at  each 
time;  inasmuch  as  it  has  become  a  custom,  not  only  in  this 
state,  but  throughout  the  United  States,  to  have  it  more  or 
less  at  all  places  where  public  works  are  going  forward,  a 
moderate  use  of  which,  we  are  of  the  opinion,  would  greatly 
forward  the  business  in  which  we  are  engaged.  The  princi- 
pal reasons  which  we  urge  for  asking  the  foregoing,  are  the 
following,  to  wit :  Having  to  work  the  principal  part  of  our 
time  under  the  influence  of  the  sun's  rays,  and  our  provisions, 
though  very  good,  is  principally  of  the  salt  kind,  and  not 
having  constantly  a  supply  of  good  fresh  water  at  hand,  and 
in  consequence  of  the  reasons  here  assigned,  we  have  many 
times  drank  more  than  was  really  good  for  us,  and  to  remedy 
this,  we  have  made  the  preceding  request.  If  it  meet  your 
approbation,  we  think  the  expense  will  be  repaid  to  the  insti- 
tution tenfold ;  if  not,  we  shall  await  your  command,  and 
abide  the  consequences  with  due  respect.  We  have  the  honor 
to  be  yours,  very  respectfully."  Namgs  signed 

This  petition  was  sent  to  the  writer,  when  in  his  log  cabin 
all  alone.  He  read  it,  and  was  considering  its  unhappy  con- 
sequences, when  a  voice  struck  his  ear  from  behind  him. 

"Mr.  H.  wants  an  answer,"  said  the  little  boy  who  waited 
on  the  hands. 

"  Tell  Mr.  H.  please  get  the  hands  together  under  the  shady 
trees  near  the  timber,  and  I  will  come  and  talk  with  them 
about  the  matter." 

And  now,  gentle  reader,  what  dost  thou  think  were  the  feel- 
ings of  the  writer,  as  this  little  messenger  ran  swiftly  away, 
to  carry  tidings  that  the  Bishop  was  coming  to  speak  with 
them? 

Remember,  the  Bishop  then  "stood  alone."  The  great 
temperance  reform  had  then  hardly  commenced  its  move- 
ments among  individuals.     Till  the  writer  had  begun  it  the 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  527 

year  before,  he  had  never  heard  of  its  existence,  and  there 
was  no  example  before  him  of  carrying  on  a  set  of  public 
buildings  without  the  use  of  liquor.  Yet  he  was  determined 
to  keep  to  his  purpose ;  and  what  could  be  done  ?  To  refuse 
them  their  request,  would  evidently  be  followed  by  a  general 
strike,  and  where  and  when  could  other  hands  be  obtained? 
Not  from  the  immediate  neighborhood,  whence  the  most  of 
these  came ;  and  that  others  from  the  state  in  general  could 
be  induced,  under  such  circumstances,  to  come,  was  equally 
hopeless,  for  many  had  predicted  the  very  thing  which  had 
now  taken  place,  and  would  regard  it  as  an  evidence  of  the 
folly,  and  as  a  proof  of  the  mental  weakness,  of  the  projector ; 
of  the  madness  of  all  his  schemes  of  founding  colleges  in  the 
woods,  by  the  means  of  temperance. 

Such  reflections  as  these  tended  to  despair.  Yet,  "somehow 
or  other,"  there  was  a  ray  of  hope  left.  Who  knows  but  God 
may  help  in  this  time  of  need !  It  is  He,  after  all,  who  can 
assuage  the  raging  of  the  sea,  "and  the  madness  of  the  peo- 
ple." But  how  this  could  now  be  effected  without  giving  up 
the  whiskey  law,  the  writer  had  no  conception.  He  went  on 
with  a  heavy,  but  a  prayerful  spirit.  As  he  approached  the 
place  where  the  hands  were  seated,  there  were  signs  of  great 
unanimity — significant  nods  and  bold  looks;  none  spoke,  and 
the  suppressed  yet  half-uttered  laugh  indicated  their  expected 
speedy  triumph. 

The  writer  now  took  his  seat  on  a  piece  of  elevated  timber, 
with  a  view  to  say  something,  yet  found  himself  unable  to 
utter  a  word,  and  for  a  considerable  period  there  was  nothing 
said  ;  and  when  he  did  begin  to  say  a  word  or  two,  it  was  not 
in  language  of  reproach  of  their  conduct,  nor  in  any  attempt 
to  display  his  own  oratory.  Something  different  was  now 
required.  Their  affections  were  to  be  won,  their  minds  en- 
lightened, and  their  wills  persuaded.  In  short,  lie  saw  it  was 
necessary  to  speak  to  them  as  meml)ers  of  the  human  family, 
and  make  them  friends  to  himself,  to  their  own  selves,  and 
to  the  true  interests  of  the  institution.  To  tins  mil.  be  told 
them  his  own  history,  and  in  so  doing,  gained  their  sympathy, 
and   enlisted  their  affections  in  his  behalf.     Many  of  them 


528  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

were  in  tears,  and  all  arose  and  went  to  work  without  a  drop 
of  whiskey. 

There  was  something  in  this  triumph  over  the  spirit  of  fac- 
tion, in  sending  so  many  to  work  without  gratifying  their 
craving  appetite  for  spirituous  liquors,  under  such  circum- 
stance of  combined  effort,  which  the  writer  had  never  been 
able  to  account  for,  but  on  a  principle  of  a  particular  'provi- 
dence. It  was  God  who  gave  him  the  victory.  It  was  not  his 
eloquence,  nor  the  weight  of  his  arguments,  nor  the  keenness 
of  any  well-timed  satire,  that  produced  the  effect.  Nor  was  it 
the  prepared  state  of  their  minds,  by  reason  of  any  previous 
arguments  on  temperance,  that  led  to  the  reflections ;  for  then 
there  had  been  nothing  said  in  favor  of  abstaining  from  the 
use  of  ardent  spirits.  Not  then,  as  now,  was  it  popular  to  be 
a  temperate  man — not  then,  as  now,  were  reformed  drunk- 
ards crowned  with  laurels  and  referred  to  as  saints ;  all  was 
the  dead  sea  of  whiskey  drinking.  It  was  consistent  with 
reputation  to  be  a  "hard  drinker."  Everything,  then,  was  a 
counter  tide  and  wind  to  the  breath  of  temperance.  How, 
then,  could  it  be  expected  that  so  many  hands,  collected  from 
the  surrounding  woods,  and  combined  together,  would  listen 
to  any  suasive  language  on  a  subject  like  this  ?  Hence  ap- 
pears the  matter  of  surprise,  that  they  went  to  work  without 
obtaining  what  they  demanded,  the  "use  of  whiskey  three 
times  a  day,"  maugre  the  temperance  law,  and  their  previous 
agreement  to  observe  it. 


But  it  is  time  to  call  off  the  reader's  tired  attention  from 
these  troublesome  scenes  to  something  more  pleasing.  This 
may  be  found  in  abundance  in  the  writer's  transatlantic  cor- 
respondence. He  had  received,  some  time  ago,  a  letter  from 
his  dear  friend  Dr.,  afterwards  Bishop,  Ward,  of  Sodor  and 
Man,  from  which  he  selects  the  following  paragraphs  for  rea- 
sons obvious :  — 

"  My  Beloved  Bishop  of  Ohio  :  — 

"  Letters  from  Old  England,  no  doubt,  are  very  interesting 
to  you,  but  I  can  assure  you  that  yours  are  sunshine  over 
every  step  you  have  trod  in  our  country.     Every  intimation 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  529 

of  your  success  comes  home  to  our  hearts  as  our  own  dearest 
personal  concerns. 

"I  have  been  collecting,  though  slowly,  little  contributions 
for  my  box,  to  render  it  worth  the  carriage.  May  all  the  rich 
spiritual  blessings  it  contains  light  on  the  Bishop  and  Church 
of  Ohio,  and  abide  with  them  forever.  Walton's  Polyglott  is 
very  scarce,  and  will  be  a  treasure  in  the  west  for  genera- 
tions yet  unborn.  This  is  the  joint  present  of  Lord  Kenyon 
and  myself,  which  you  will  doubtless  acknowledge  to  his 
lordship. 

"  My  warm-hearted  Mary  Ohio  retains  her  first  love,  and  is 
as  cordial  and  zealous  as  ever,  and  so  is  my  dear  Charlotte. 
These  dear  children  merit  your  blessing,  and  I  am  sure  they 
will  have  it,  because  you  have  seen,  and  are  convinced,  they 
love  you,  and  sympathize  in  your  arduous  labors. 

"You  will  find  in  the  box  a  handsome  present  from  the 
tutor  of  my  college,  son  of  the  late  Bishop  Cloghen,  in  Ire- 
land. 

"Professor  Farish,  and  your  other  Cambridge  friends, 
inquired  kindly  after  you. 

"  Mrs.  Walker  and  her  family  will  send  you  a  memorial  of 
themselves,  in  grateful  acknowledgment  of  your  veneration  for 
the  memory  of  their  sainted  father.  You  will  perceive  that 
your  Colchester  friends  have  not  forgotten  you,  nor  will  you 
cease  to  be  remembered  in  Old  England  wherever  you  have 
set  your  foot." 

The  daughter  of  this  warm-hearted  friend  of  the  writer, 
alluded  to  in  the  above  extract,  was,  indeed,  all  that  her 
father  believed  her  to  be.  For  her  years,  (only  fourteen  or 
fifteen,)  she  was  then  eminently  a  Christian,  and  formed  all 
her  attachments  on  the  basis  of  faitli  in  bei  divine  Saviour. 
Modesty,  piety,  and  zeal  for  Christ,  seemed  her  chief  charac- 
teristics. The  writer  had  mentioned  to  her  in  a  letter  that  her 
example  was  imitated  and  was  likely  to  do  good  in  America. 
The  following  extract  will  show  the  pious  use  she  made  of 
this  intelligence.    She  says:  — 

"What  you  tell  me  of  ;  Kenyon  Circle'  is  indeed  cause  of 


530  BISHOP    CHASE'S    reminiscences. 

gratitude  and  praise  to  that  God  whose  strength  is  made  per- 
fect in  weakness ;  that  he  should  put  such  honor  on  his  most 
unworthy  servant  as  to  make  me  in  this  unexpected  manner 
an  humble  instrument  of  his  glory,  is  a  striking  instance  of 
the  freeness  of  redeeming  love :  it  is  also  one  among  the  many 
proofs  which  he  has  given  of  his  care  for  your  infant  Zion; 
another  evidence  that  it  is  his  own  work  to  prosper  her,  and 
that  he  can  use  what  means  he  pleases  to  promote  his  pur- 
poses of  grace. 

"  All  those  who  know  the  love  of  Jesus,  and  the  sanctifying 
influence  of  the  Word  and  Spirit  of  God,  cannot  but  be  anx- 
ious for  a  communication  of  these  blessings  to  the  millions 
who  are  as  yet  unenlightened  by  the  Gospel  of  Christ.  No 
wonder,  then,  that  all  such  who  hear  of  it  should  be  deeply 
interested  in  the  cause  you  have  in  hand.  It  was  delightful 
to  us  to  hear  such  glad  accounts  of  your  prosperity. 

"I  can  imagine  nothing  more  interesting  than  the  laying  of 
the  corner-stone  of  Kenyon  college.  No  doubt  the  Lord  was 
there,  and  consecrated  the  ground  by  His  presence. 

"  We  propose  to  papa  to  get  a  curate  for  three  months,  for 
Horksley,  that  we  may  go  and  pay  a  visit  over  the  Atlantic. 
This  would  give  us  one  month  to  go,  one  to  spend,  and  one  to 
return  home  in.     But  though  these  plans  do  very  well  for 
amusement,  they  do  not  afford  any  pleasure  or  real  satisfac- 
tion.    There  is  but  one  thought  which  can  give  these,  when 
we  think  of  those  dear  Christian  friends  from  whom  we  may 
be  separated  forever  in  this  world — ice  all  shall  meet  in  glory. 
Heaven  is  the  Christian's  home,  and  thither  all  his  prospects 
lead.     And  oh,  what  free,  what  sovereign  grace,  must  that  be 
which  brings  the  prophet  and  the  child  together,  and  gives  the 
purchased  crown  to  every  ransomed  sinner,  whether  they  have 
worked  one  hour  or  many,  so  they  have  worked  diligently, 
and  for  the  love  of  Jesus.     It  was  to  her  who  had  loved  much 
that  Jesus  first  revealed  himself  after  he  arose  from  the  dead. 
Dear,  honored  sir,  I  know  I  have  an  interest  in  your  prayers, 
and  dearly  do  I  prize  the  privilege.     What  I  desire,  above  all 
things,  for  myself  is,  to  cultivate  more  of  the  spirit  of  her  who 
bathed  her  Saviour's  feet  with  her  tears,  and  wiped  them  with 
the  hairs  of  her  head." 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  531 

The  insertion  of  the  above  extract  from  the  correspondence 
of  Miss  Mary  Caroline  Ward  seemed  called  for  by  the  kind 
mention  of  her  by  her  worthy  father,  afterwards  Lord  Bishop 
of  Sodor  and  Man,  in  his  letter  to  the  writer  immediately  pre- 
ceding. If  the  writer  of  this  memoir  mistake  not,  the  Ameri- 
can reader  will  be  pleased  to  witness  the  real  character  of 
English  prelates  and  their  families ;  a  door  thus  unexpectedly 
thrown  open  will  be  regarded  as  a  favor,  if  thereby  we  can 
have  good  evidence  that  the  English  clergy  bring  up  their 
children  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord ;  imbuing 
their  minds  from  their  infancy  with  the  principles  of  true  faith, 
true  hope,  and  true  charity — the  undoubted  pledges  of  immor- 
tal glory. 

The  same,  he  thinks,  may  be  evinced  from  the  following 
extract  from  a  letter  of  a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  William  Jones, 
of  Nayland,  to  whom,  and  her  gift  of  a  telescope  to  Kenyon 
college,  Bishop  Ward  also  alludes  in  his  letter. 

Be  it  known  that  the  writer  had  never  seen  this  lady,  or,  at 
that  time,  any  of  her  family.  She,  Mrs.  Mary  Walker,  living 
at  Gestinthorp,  had  heard  of  the  writer's  visit  with  Lord  Ken- 
yon to  the  town  of  her  father,  and  of  the  object  which  brought 
him  to  England. 

The  following  is  the  extract  of  her  letter,  dated  August  10th, 
1827,  respecting  the  present  which  accompanied  it:  — 

"I  hope  the  small  offering  which  accompanies  this  letter 
will  not  be  altogether  unworthy  of  your  acceptance.  I  have 
not  seen  the  telescope,  but  from  the  information  I  receive  from 
my  friends,  I  think  it  is  of  sufficient  magnitude  to  be  useful. 
I  wish  it  could  have  been  a  superior  one.  but  that  was  not 
within  the  reach  of  my  ability,  and  I  feel  assured  that  you  will 
take  into  consideration  the  weight  of  esteem  and  veneration 
with  which  it  is  offered,  and  believe  the  high  honor  I  esteem 
it  that  I  have  been  permitted  to  assist  (though  in  so  small  a 
degree)  an  establishment  for  which  1  feel  the  deepest  interest, 
and  for  the  prosperity  and  increase  of  which  1  shall  never 
cease  to  pray  while  I  have  life. 

"I  am  sorry  (or  the  delay  I  have  most  unwillingly  occa- 
sioned, for  I  had  hoped  that  you  would,  before  this  time,  have 


532  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

received  this  instrument ;  but  I  am  sure  of  your  pardon  when 
I  tell  you  that,  from  my  own  weak  health,  (to  which  has  been 
added  a  deep  family  affliction,)  I  have  not  been  able  to  accom- 
plish my  share  of  the  packages  to  go  in  the  box  with  the  tele- 
scope. We  are  all  in  a  suffering  state,  but  if  our  sufferings  be 
sanctified  for  the  sake  of  the  blessed  adorable  Saviour,  we  can 
and  do  rejoice  in  them,  feeling  that  they  proceed  from  the  hand 
of  Infinite  Wisdom  and  Infinite  Love,  and  will  work  together 
for  good  if  rightly  received. 

"  And  now,  dear  sir,  I  will  bid  you  farewell  for  the  present. 
May  the  great  and  merciful  God,  whose  you  are,  and  whom 
you  serve,  continue  to  shower  abundantly  on  you  his  richest 
blessings,  and  grant  you  long  to  remain  an  instrument  in  his 
hand  for  bringing  many  souls  to  glory, — that  the  crown  you 
will  cast  before  the  throne  may  be  adorned  with  many  precious 
jewels. 

"All  unite  in  thanks  for  the  honor  you  have  conferred  on 
us  by  the  accepting  of  our  humble  offering.  M.  W." 

It  was  said  that  in  the  settlement  of  the  bankers  of  the  two 
separate  funds,  the  one  for  the  benefit  of  the  General  Seminary 
in  New  York,  and  the  college  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  the 
other  for  Bishop  Chase,  in  Ohio,  there  had  occurred  an  error 
in  favor  of  the  latter  and  against  the  former  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  pounds  fourteen  shillings  and  sixpence,  sterling. 
The  following  letters  explanatory  of  that  fact  will  show  the 
very  generous  and  honorable  manner  in  which  the  same  was 
provided  for  and  settled. 

"  London,  July  30,  1827. 
"  To  the  Honorable  Henry  Clay,  State  Department,   Wash- 

ington. 
«  sIR  : — Messrs.  Hoares,  bankers  and  treasurers  of  the  Ohio 
fund,  have  just  discovered  a  mistake  that  was  made  by  the 
bankers  at  Oxford,  who  remitted  to  them  the  subscriptions 
raised  there  for  Ohio,  and  for  the  General  Seminary,  and  Hart- 
ford college.  They  ought  to  have  remitted  to  Messrs.  Hoares 
only  so  much  as  was  raised  for  Ohio,  but  they  did  remit  what 
was  raised  for  all  these,  and  the  consequence  has  been  that  I 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  533 

received  and  paid  one  hundred  and  sixty  pounds  fourteen  stiil- 
lings  and  sixpence  too  much.  The  only  way  to  correct  the 
mistake  now,  is  for  the  trustees  of  Ohio  to  pay  to  the  trustees 
of  the  General  Theological  Seminary  at  New  York,  and  of  the 
college  at  Hartford,  what  I  paid  to  them  in  error,  say  one 
hundred  and  sixty  pounds  fourteen  shillings  and  sixpence, 
sterling,  or  what  was  realized  from  that  sum.  The  enclosed 
lines  to  Bishop  Chase  will  inform  him  of  the  matter.  Pray 
excuse  the  trouble,  and  believe  me,  most  truly,  your  obedient 
servant,  Timothy  Wiggin." 

"  London,  August  4,  1827. 
"  To  the  Honorable  Henry  Clay,  State  Department,  Wash- 
ington. 

"  Sir  : — I  wrote  to  you  on  the  30th  ult,  and  requested  you 
and  your  co-trustees  to  pay  to  the  General  Theological  Semi- 
nary in  New  York,  and  the  college  at  Hartford,  one  hundred 
and  sixty  pounds  fourteen  shillings  and  sixpence,  out  of  the 
Ohio  fund,  that  sum  having  been  paid  to  it  in  error.  I  have 
now  to  confirm  the  error,  but  have  also  the  pleasure  to  request 
you  not  to  pay  the  money  over  without  further  advice  from 
me,  as  a  noble  peer  has  given  one  hundred  pounds  to  the  Ohio 
institution,  and  I  have  hopes  of  raising  the  remaining  sixty 
pounds.  At  present  the  donation  is  anonymous,  but  I  believe 
it  was  made  by  Lord  Goderich.  I  am  sorry  to  trouble  you  so 
frequently  in  this  matter ;  but  rely  on  a  continuance  of  that 
kindness  which  you  manifested  from  the  first  towards  the  good 
cause.  I  remain,  truly,  your  obedient  servant, 

"Timothy  Wiggin." 


CHAPTER    XLV. 

PROGRESS  AND  PARTICULARS  OP  THE  WORK A  VISIT  HOME INTER- 
VIEW WITH  A  LUMBER  SELLER BUILDS  A  MILL-DAM EQUINOC- 
TIAL STORM VISIT  FROM  A  BOSTON  LADY. 

It  was  a  consciousness  of  the  purity  of  his  motives,  and  that 
he  was  acting  for  the  glory  of  God,  which  supported  the  writer 

45* 


534  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

to  bear  the  great  toil  and  harassing  care  which  fell  to  his  lot 
while  endeavoring  to  carry  his  plans  of  benevolence  into  effect. 
His  personal  oversight  was  necessary  to  a  judicious  applica- 
tion of  the  funds  intrusted  to  his  care  for  a  sacred  purpose. 

Let  a  few  extracts  from  letters  written  at  this  toilsome 
period  be  taken  as  an  index  of  his  daily  labors. 

"Gambler,  Kenyan  College,  August  2,  1827. 
"My  Dear  Wife:  — 

"  I  wrote  you  a  few  words  when  I  was  in  Mount  Vernon 
last  Friday,  and  enclosed  a  draft  of  one  hundred  dollars.  As 
soon  as  Chapman  and  Upsom's  account  is  rendered,  and  we 
can  settle  with  him,  that  shall  be  paid.  I  think  I  told  you  of 
Mr.  T.  leaving  me,  and  of  the  distress  I  was  in,  both  on 
account  of  having  the  business,  with  very  little  knowledge  of 
what  had  been  the  proceedings,  all  thrown  upon  my  hands, 
and  on  account  of  the  matter  of  housekeeping.  Above  forty 
hands  were  to  be  provided  for,  and  served  with  their  meat 
and  drink  in  due  season ;  and  inasmuch  as  Mr.  T.  had,  of  his 
own,  a  few  beds,  not  only  their  place  was  to  be  supplied,  but, 
owing  to  an  increase  of  some  twelve  or  fifteen  hands,  others 
were  to  be  provided  out  of  whole  cloth.  What  could  be  done? 
God  helped  me ;  as  I  told  you,  I  went  with  the  wagon,  I  don't 
know  how  many  times,  to  Mount  Vernon,  for  a  new  set.  and 
an  additional  quantity  of  kitchen  and  table  furniture,  and  our 
wants,  however  numerous,  were  after  a  sort  supplied.  While 
these  things  were  going  on,  the  demands  of  the  masons  were 
to  be  attended  to.  The  stone  began  to  fail  in  quantity  on  the 
spot,  and  no  teams  could  be  had  but  at  an  enormous  expense 
(knowing  I  was  in  great  want)  to  draw  them.  What  could 
be  done  and  whither  could  I  turn?  God  opened  a  door,  and 
through  it  sent  me  twelve  pair  of  fine  oxen  at  a  very  reason- 
able price — so  much  so,  that  if  they  work  till  winter  they  will, 
at  the  prices  at  which  I  am  obliged  to  hire,  more  than  pay  for 
their  purchase  money. 

"  The  chains  and  carriages  are  now  nearly  provided  for 
them,  so  that  we  hope  soon  to  have  our  business  before  us. 
You  have  little  idea  of  the  quantity  of  stone  it  takes ;  but 
think !  as  the  walls  are,  they  are  raised,  the  one  half  of  them 


bishop  chase's   reminiscences.  535 

to  the  top  of  the  basement  story,  and  the  other  half  is  about 
two  thirds  up  to  that  height.  But  you  will  ask  how  we  can 
accommodate  so  many  hands  with  room  in  our  present  scanty 
allowance  of  buildings?  Answer— We  had  to  make  three 
or  four  sittings  down  at  table  at  our  meals,  and  the  men 
found  their  lodgings  in  the  cockloft  of  the  shop,  this  dwelling, 
and  the  floor  of  the  dining-room.  For  a  dining-room  we  are 
putting  up  a  little  log-hewn  house,  between  that  in  which  we 
now  live  and  the  street.  It  will  rather  join  it,  so  that  the 
stove-pipe  of  the  new  may  pass  into  the  chimney  of  the  old 
building.  The  dining-room  inside  will  be  about  sixteen  by 
twenty-three  feet.  Part  of  the  roof  will  project  over,  so  as  to 
produce  a  shelter  as  you  pass  from  the  kitchen  into  the  dining- 
room. 

"  If  you  ask  how  the  little  stone  building  comes  on.  I 
answer,  but  slowly.  So  few  joiners  have  presented  them- 
selves, and  so  much  work  in  making  window-frames  and 
other  things  to  keep  the  masons  going  on  well  with  the  great 
building,  that  but  little  is  done  to  this.  The  roof  is  on,  and 
the  joiners  at  work  in  it.  The  lower  floor  is  laid,  and  half  the 
chamber  floor,  and  a  part  of  the  staircase  and  stairs  up  into 
the  chamber  are  done. 

"Our  saw-pit  frame  is  reared,  and  hands  are  engaged  in 
getting  out  joists.  I  am  more  and  more  pleased  with  the  plan 
of  the  college.  It  will  afford  more  conveniences  than  any 
building  I  ever  saw.  If  carried  into  complete  effect,  the  plan 
will  be  more  admired  for  its  perfection  in  the  accommodation 
of  both  professors  and  students  than  any  other  which  I  have 
noticed  in  the  United  States.  We  feel  the  loss  of  the  Wilson 
horse  very  much,  but  hope  God  will  enable  us  to  get  on  with 
our  work  notwithstanding. 

"  We  have  instituted  a  parish  on  our  college  grounds  by 
the  name  of  Harcourt  parish.  After  the  papers  are  put  on 
record,  the  corporation  will  be  legal.  Good  ip-ws  from  (Jar- 
diner,  Me.,  on  the  Kennebec  river.  The  Efanyofl  Girclfl  of 
that  place  have  sent  on  and  deposited  in  the  North  River 
Hank,  in  New  York,  for  our  college  in  this  place,  one  hundred 
and  fifty-tWO  dollars  and  fifty-three  e.-nts.  HOW  good  is  (Jod 
in  blessing  our  weak  endeavors  t<»  his  Aoxy ! " 


536  bishop  chase's  reminiscences. 

Again,  the  same  to  the  same. 

"  August  24 
"  The  great  work  progresses  slowly  but  surely.  The  base- 
ment story  is  now  completed.  The  tall  scaffold-poles  now 
rear  their  heads  all  around  the  building.  The  joist  timbers 
are  now  taking  their  places,  and  the  frames  of  the  partition- 
walls  below  are  putting  together.  The  masons  are  pressing 
the  carpenters,  the  carpenters  the  teamsters,  and  the  teamsters 
the  hewers.  The  whip-sawyers  are  not  able  to  keep  up  with 
the  demand  in  their  line.  The  blacksmiths,  two  in  number, 
are  driven  very  hard,  to  keep  sharp  the  hammers  and  picks, 
repair  the  chains,  mend  wagons  and  make  new  irons  for  them, 
and  shoes  for  twenty-eight  cattle  in  the  teams. 

"  Our  log-house,  additional  to  that  you  saw.  will  receive  its 
roof  to-morrow,  and  in  the  beginning  of  the  week,  I  trust,  will 
be  occupied  as  a  dining-room.  The  stone  Gothic  building, 
for  a  professor's  house,  must  soon  be  plastered.  I  go  to  Moimt 
Vernon  to-morrow  for  a  thousand  things,  and  shall  put  this  in 
the  post-office  for  you.  We  have  now  nearly  sixty  hands,  all 
busily  and  faithfully  at  work ;  an  account  of  each  is  taken 
every  night.  P.  C." 

During  all  this  period  of  incessant  labor  on  the  week  days, 
the  writer  was  never  unmindful  of  his  more  sacred  calling  as 
a  clergyman.  What  his  feeble  self  could  do  on  Sundays,  by 
by  the  grace  of  God,  he  did  on  Gambier  hill,  at  Mount  Ver- 
non, in  Perry  township,  and  other  places  in  the  neighborhood. 

Worthington,  where  his  family  and  school  were,  he  by  no 
means  neglected.  It  was  about  the  10th  or  12th  of  October  he 
had  planned  a  visit  thither,  when  he  found  his  wife  suffering 
under  a  severe  attack  of  the  typhus  fever.  The  weight  of  care 
necessary  in  conducting  the  destinies  of  a  large  family  of  boys, 
added  to  the  anxieties  of  attending  the  sick  bed  of  a  dear  rela- 
tive, one  of  the  teacher's  wives,  had  brought  this  object  of  the 
writer's  choicest  affections  nearly  to  the  grave.  She  had, 
however,  passed  the  crisis  of  the  disease  before  he  reached  his 
home,  and  the  heart-cheering  sound,  " She  is  better,"  met  his 
ears  as  he  jumped  his  horse  over  the  fence  from  the  backwoods 
into  the  cultivated  field  where  stood  his  lovely  dwelling. 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  537 

"She  is  better,"  said  the  sympathizing  boys,  clustering 
round  their  unexpected  visitor.  Indeed,  he  found  it  so,  and 
blessed  God  sincerely  ;  but  duty  called  him  soon  away,  with 
what  feelings  of  deep  regret  may  be  gathered  from  the  follow- 
ing letter,  written  on  his  return :  — 

"Gambler,  October  16,  1827. 

"  My  Dear  Wife  :  — 

» I  can't  sleep  in  the  latter  part  of  the  night,  by  reason  of 
my  great  anxieties;  and  they  are  not  diminished,  I'll  assure 
you,  since  I  left  you  in  a  sick  bed  yesterday  morning.     The 
horse  which  I  rode  on  bespattered  me  with  mud  more  than 
usual,  so   that  I   was  wet   the   whole   day.     I   arrived   at 
Mount  Vernon,  the  sun  one  hour  high,  and  after  getting  my 
mail  from  the  post-office,  and  borrowing  a  horse  from  Mr. 
Banning,  I  set  my  face  towards  Gambier.     The  setting  sun, 
gilding  the  variegated  woods  with  peculiar  brilliancy  as  I  rode 
to  the  east  by  its  reflected  rays  from  the  beautiful  landscape, 
filled  my  eyes  wherever  I  turned  my  sight.     The  road  was 
dry,  hard  and  good,  not  like  the  mud  of  Worthington ;  so  that, 
mounted  on  a  sturdy  horse,  and  pacing  gently  along,  I  had 
full  time  for  reflection.     How  constantly  was  my  mind  then 
turned  on  you!     I  had  left  you  sick  — very  sick,  and  was 
going  from  you.     Dear  sister  Fanny  also  sick,  and  little  Phi- 
lander quite  indisposed.     Was  this  my  desertion  of  you  from 
my  own  inclination  1     No !    nothing  but  the  great  duty  of 
overseeing  what  God  hath  so  miraculously  put  into  my  hands 
could  have  persuaded  me  to  do  this.     Even  as  it  is,  I  feel  a 
pang  which  I  cannot  describe  to  you.     My  eyes  fill  with  tears 
when  I  think  how  I  left  you  in  sickness.     But  God's  will  be 
done  !     My  exile  here  is  the  result  of  this  submission. 

On  my  arrival  at  G ,  I  found  the  family  all  well.  Dud- 
ley had  done  as  I  told  him,  copied  one  chapter  in  the  Bible 
every  day.  Mrs.  Douglass  never  looked  better.  Would  that 
you  could,  this  past  summer,  have  enjoyed  this  most  healthy 
air.  And  now,  my  dear  wife,  having  many  more  letters  to 
write  before  day,  for  1  have  risen,  as  usual,  just  after  mid- 
night, to  write  and  pray  for  you,  I  must  bid  you  adieu ! 

"  Your  most  Loving  husband, 

L\  Chase." 


538  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

To  those  who  are  well  acquainted  with  building,  especially 
in  a  new  country,  where  hands  are  frequently  so  difficult  to 
be  had,  it  doubtless  has  been  a  matter  of  surprise,  that  the 
writer  should  think  of  relying  on  whip-sawyers  for  a  supply 
of  joist  and  studding  in  building  Kenyon  college.  In  truth, 
the  fallacy  of  this  scheme  was  soon  discovered.  Scantling 
could  not  be  had  fast  enough ;  skilful  sawyers  were  scarce, 
and  those  who  could  be  obtained  rose  in  their  demand  of 
wages,  so  that  the  progress  of  the  work  was  nearly  at  a  stand. 

"  Why  cannot  I  have  a  saw-mill  of  my  own,  like  other  peo- 
ple who  have  plenty  of  water  and  good  mill-seats  V  said  the 
writer  to  himself.  "Why?  because  it  is  thought  by  all  my 
friends,  that  it  is  too  great  an  undertaking,  considering  my 
want  of  means,  my  own  inexperience,  and  the  hazard  run  in 
building  dams  on  sandy  banks,  and  on  alluvial  foundations. 
They  say  I  '11  be  ruined  if  I  attempt  it.  What  then  can  be 
done  ?  I  will  go  to  the  nearest  saw-mill  and  see  if  a  supply 
may  not  thence  be  had."  This  saw-mill  was  on  a  small  creek 
which  ran  from  the  south,  and  entered  the  college  premises, 
and  mingled  with  the  Vernon  river  at  the  extremity  of  the 
great  bend.  It  was  situate  in  the  bosom  of  fine  timber  trees 
for  saw  logs,  and  in  the  spring  and  fall,  there  being  a  full 
supply  of  water,  it  had  done  a  good  business,  and  there  was  a 
quantity  of  lumber  on  hand  nicely  piled  up  to  dry. 

"This  looks  well,"  said  the  writer,  as  he  rode  up  to  the 
owner's  house,  next  the  mill,  "  and  if  he  will  sell  reasonably,  I 
need  not  be  at  the  expense  and  hazard  of  erecting  on  the  col- 
lege premises.  I  can  draw  my  lumber  even  from  hence  with 
my  strong  and  numerous  teams.  Is  this  lumber  for  sale, 
my  good  neighbor?"  "It  is  for  sale,"  said  he.  "What  is 
your  price,  if  I  take  all  you  can  spare?"  "My  price,  sir,  is 
— "  (so  and  so,  mentioning  very  extravagant  rates.)  "  This 
is  much  higher  than  usual."  "I  know  it,"  said  he,  "but 
there  is  my  lumber,  and  I  have  told  you  my  price,  and  if  you 
are  not  suited,  you  know  the  way  home  again."  "Indeed  I 
do,"  said  the  writer,  "and  my  horse  knows  it  too;  so  good 
morning  to  you,  Mr.  Miller."  He  seemed  to  feel  as  his  rider 
did,  resolved  on  attaining  his  end  by  other  means  than  by 
submitting  to  the  unreasonable  demands  of  the  lumber  seller. 


bishop  chase's  reminiscences.  539 

It  was  at  this  crisis  of  time  and  affairs  that  the  writer  resolved 
to  build  a  saw-mill,  propelled  by  water  power,  for  Gambier 
hill.     His  mind  was  made  up,  as  he  rode  swiftly  away. 

The  path,  then  a  new  one  and  overhung  with  thick  bushes, 
was  quickly  travelled,  till  his  horse  plunged  into  the  flowing 
stream  and  pure  waters  of  Vernon  river.  "Here  are  the  fine 
rapids  at  my  left,  and  just  below  them,  and  a  little  above 
where  I  am  now,  shall  be  my  dam."  "And  here,"  (as  the 
writer  ascended  the  bank,)  "  here,"  said  he,  "  shall  commence 
a  race-way  across  this  neck  of  land  or  isthmus,  through 
which  the  water  of  the  river  shall  be  taken,  and  issue  in  the 
same  stream  below,  after  it  has  gone  the  round  of  the  half  of 
a  mile. 

"The  fall,  I  judge,  will  be  nearly  ten  feet,  abundantly  suf- 
ficient for  all  purposes  of  several  mills.  The  race  in  distance 
will  be  some  less  than  one  hundred  rods.  But  how  shall  I 
accomplish  this  great  work  ?  Who  will  have  courage  to  build 
this  dam,  and  excavate  this  canal,  dig  and  prepare  the  places 
to  set  the  mills  below?  'Jehovah  jireh,'  —  'God  will  pro- 
vide,'" was  the  only  appropriate  answer,  though  the  writer 
then,  in  his  slowness  of  heart  to  believe,  had  hardly  dared  to 
adopt  this  (as  through  grace  he  has  since  done)  as  his  motto. 

On  the  hill,  among  the  workmen,  the  news  that  the  Bishop 
had  come  to  the  determination  to  build  a  saw-mill  was  re- 
ceived as  if  a  long-expected  friend  had  arrived.  "  It  is  a  wise 
plan,"  said  one.  "It  is  what  I  expected,"  said  another;  "I 
knew  we  could  not  get  on  without  it."  "  The  goods  from  the 
east,  to  pay  his  hands  and  supply  their  wants,  have  come  in 
the  right  season,"  said  others.  This  was  the  language  cur- 
rent among  the  hands,  from  which  it  was  evident  that  they 
were  in  good  spirits,  and  had  confidence  in  the  measure.  As 
to  the  "store  of  goods11  which  had  arrived,  the  want  of  them 
had  been  long  felt.  To  buy  everything  from  the  little  shops 
in  the  neighboring  villages,  at  their  exaggerated  prices,  would 
have  ruined  the  college.  The  writer  had  foreseen  this  when 
in  Philadelphia,  and  pledged  all  his  credit  in  the  purchase  of  a 
handsome  assortment,  which,  arriving  about  this  time,  proved 
most  useful. 

The  most  of  the  hands,  and  all  the  teams,  were  now  em- 


540  BISHOP   chase's   reminiscences. 

ployed  in  erecting  the  dam  for  the  mill.  It  was  indeed  a  busy 
scene,  absorbing  all  the  thoughts,  time,  and  energies  of  the 
writer.  He  now  looks  back  upon  it  with  astonishment ;  all 
his  apology  is,  that  it  was  a  matter  of  necessity.  No  one 
came  to  his  assistance.  The  reports  of  the  rashness  of  this 
measure  grew  as  they  progressed  through  his  extensive  dio- 
cese. Nearly  all  being  averse  to  his  plans,  his  measures,  of 
course,  obtained  no  mercy,  and  were  condemned  as  visionary 
and  erroneous.  This  was  the  settled  state  of  public  opinion 
abroad.  Nearer  at  home  the  writer  had  to  experience  what 
not  unusually  arises  in  the  breasts  of  those  who  are  disap- 
pointed in  not  getting  the  profits  on  the  goods  which  they 
knew  the  college  would  want.  Some  said  openly  that  they 
had  subscribed  in  hope  of  this  kind  of  gain,  and  now  were 
defrauded  of  what  they  deemed  an  equivalent  of  their  sub- 
scription. 

Under  date  of  the  23d  of  September,  the  writer,  in  a  letter 
to  his  family,  has  these  words :  — 

"  The  dam  for  the  mill  would  proceed  in  building,  but  for 
want  of  hewers  of  timber ;  as  it  is,  we  shall  finish  the  apron 
(or  course  of  timbers  at  the  bottom  for  the  water  to  fall  on) 
to-morrow.  The  boat  is  launched,  and  answers  a  most  excel- 
lent purpose,  it  saves  the  work  of  ten  teams  in  getting  stone 

and  gravel. 

"29th.  Thank  God  for  his  merciful  goodness  in  keeping 
the  equinoctial  storm  hushed,  the  streams  low,  and  the  wea- 
ther fine.  The  dam  is  secured,  though  not  finished.  Much 
has  been  done  towards  completing  the  '  tail-race.'  The  'head- 
race' commences  on  Monday.  The  running-gears  of  the  mill 
nearly  completed  —  the  frame  of  the  mill  itself—  timber  hewed 
and  laid  out.  .  .  .  The  story  of  the  college,  (above  the 
basement,)  one  side  up  as  far  as  the  windows,  and  everything 

progresses. 

"I  wish  our  farm  at  Worthington  to  be  advertised;  give 
possession  when  we  leave  it  next  fall.  It  must  be  sold,  or  I 
am  ruined  in  my  plans  about  the  college." 

What  was  meant  by  the  expressions  in  the  above  memo- 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  541 

randum  of  "  tail"  and  "  head  race,"  is  this :  The  whole  stream 
of  Vernon  river  makes  a  bend  almost  equal  to  a  circle,  or 
rather  it  resembles  an  ox-bow.  The  canal  to  be  cut  across 
the  neck  of  this  bow  is  called  the  race.  The  lower  end,  where 
the  water  would  issue  below  the  place  of  the  designed  mill,  is 
called  the  "  tail-race."  The  upper  end,  or  main  space  of  the 
canal,  commencing  at  the  dam,  and  continuing  across  the 
whole  neck,  is  called  the  "  head-race."  The  former,  or  the 
place  of  putting  the  mill  and  the  issue  of  the  water  to  the 
main  stream  below,  had,  at  the  time  of  writing  the  above 
notes,  been  commenced.  A  mill-pit  had  been  dug,  and  a  small 
space  for  the  outlet  of  the  water,  but  it  was,  on  account  of  the 
expense  of  excavating,  on  a  small  scale,  compared  with  what 
was  needed. 

The  divine  goodness  had  pity  on  the  writer,  to  remedy 
this,  as  will  appear  by  the  following  story  of  our  equinoctial 

storm : 

The  force  of  all  the  teams,  with  many  earth-scrapes,  had 
been  employed  for  several  weeks ;  but  the  work  was  more 
tedious  than  was  anticipated,  and  went  on  but  slowly,  when 
a  storm  of  rain,  usual  at  that  season,  but  seldom  so  copious, 
commenced.  It  poured  down  for  several  days  almost  inces- 
santly. Vernon  river  rose  to  an  uncommon  height,  and  being 
stopped  by  the  mill-dam,  inundated  the  whole  surface  of  the 
low  lands.  As  Noah  from  the  ark,  so  the  writer,  from  Gam- 
bier  hill,  looked  forth  on  a  flood  of  water  spreading  like  the 
sea  all  around.  At  that  time  his  feelings  deeply  sympathized 
with  the  elements  of  nature.  He  felt  as  if  all  was  lost ;  his 
dam  was  no  more  to  be  seen,  and  the  water  was  rising  and 
carrying  everything  with  it.  i 

There  is  something  in  despair  which  is  sul  generis ;  it  has 
not  its  likeness,  and  of  course  cannot  be  described  by  similes 
or  metaphors.  But  the  deepness  of  despair  serves  often  to  set 
off  by  contrast  the  joys  of  returning  hope.  The  assuaging 
of  the  waters  brought  to  view  the  fact  that  the  dam  was  not 
lost,  that  it  had  stood  firm ;  and  as  the  flood  drew  off  its  forces, 
a  channel  was  found  in  the  commenced  race,  not  yet  s< 'cured 
by  a  "  head-gate."  The  water  falling  into  the  mill-pit  already 
described,  it  continued  to  react  and  cause  a  continual  caving 

46 


542  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

in,  till  not  only  the  space  was  greatly  enlarged  to  receive  a 
saw-mill  and  float-mill,  but  the  whole  race  was  nearly  all 
excavated,  thereby  saving  the  expense  of  many  hundred  dol- 
lars. This  mark  of  providential  goodness  was  of  signal  ser- 
vice in  building  Kenyon  college. 


DISINTERESTED    TESTIMONY. 

Not  long  after  the  equinoctial  rain,  its  favorable  results  on 
the  Bishop's  mill-race  became  the  subject  of  conversation 
throughout  the  neighborhood.  Amongst  those  who  came  to 
see,  and  be  an  eye-witness  of  what  was  done,  was  the  driver 
of  the  stage-coach.  Having  walked  over  the  premises,  and 
examined  the  whole  scene  of  the  late  providential  beneficence, 
he  seemed  to  wonder  that  the  same  freshet,  which  ordinarily 
does  so  much  harm,  should  in  this  instance  have  been  made 
to  do  so  much  good  and  save  so  much  expense.  Instead  of 
going  through  the  routine  of  second  causes,  the  man  went 
directly  to  the  opinion  that  it  was  God  who  had  interposed  in 
the  Bishop's  behalf,  and  that  henceforward  it  would  be  in  vain 
to  oppose  Kenyon  college.  He  should  do  it  no  longer,  he 
said,  for  he  found  that  having  God  for  its  friend,  the  whole 
matter  was  too  serious  a  thing  to  be  laughed  at. 

It  was  not  many  days  before  this  stage-coach  driver  had  an 
opportunity  of  manifesting  that  the  opinion  which  he  had  thus 
deliberately  formed  could  not  be  shaken  by  bold  assertion  nor 
artful  ridicule.  His  carriage  being  full,  and  the  driver,  by 
reason  of  the  peculiar  construction  of  the  back  wood  coaches, 
seated  almost  as  one  of  the  passengers,  there  was  commenced 
a  conversation  which  went  to  condemn  and  ridicule  the  plan 
of  Kenyon  college,  and  predict  its  failure.  This  was  affirmed 
to  be  the  opinion  of  all  in  the  coach,  and  reasserted  of  all 
throughout  the  country.  "  The  Bishop  has  no  friends,"  said 
they ;  "  his  plan  is  hopeless."  "  You  are  a  little  too  fast,"  said 
the  driver,  "  a  little  too  fast,  gentlemen,  in  what  you  say— 
Bishop  Chase  has  one  friend."  "  And  who  is  he?"  was  the 
general  question. 

"It  is  one,"  said  the  driver,  "whom  if  you  knew  you 
would  not  despise,  and  knowing  his  favor  to  the  Bishop,  you 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  543 

would  no  longer  speak  thus."  "And  who  is  he?  who  can 
this  friend  be?"  was  reiterated  from  the  lips  of  all.  "Gen- 
tlemen," said  the  driver,  in  a  solemn  tone  of  voice,  "  God  is 
Bishop  Chase's  friend,  and  my  proof  is  the  fact  that  he  caused 
the  late  equinoctial  rain-storm  to  dig  his  mill-race  for  him, 
thus  saving  him  the  expense  of  many  hundred  dollars." 


It  cannot  be  too  often  stated  as  the  objects  of  this  memoir 
— real  life — matters  of  fact — moral  and  religious  truth — 
faith — hope,  and  charity — all  more  or  less  ascertained  from 
original  letters,  written  with  no  design  of  publication.  The 
following  letter  extracts,  it  is  thought,  fall  in  with  this  design. 

A    BOSTON    LADY'S    VISIT    TO    GAMBIER    HILL. 

Bishop  Chase's  account  of  it  in  a  letter  to  his  wife,  dated 
Gambier,  Nov.  11,  1827. 

"  My  Dear  Wife  :  — 

"  Who  should  be  here  to  see  me  but  Miss  Farnum,  of  Bos- 
ton !  You  have  often  heard  me  speak  of  her  as  Mr.  Eaton's 
attached  friend,  and  Miss  Gibbs'  counsellor.  I  believe  it  was 
entirely  through  her  advice  that  Miss  G.  gave  us  the  one  hun- 
dred dollars.  She  is  very  intimate,  also,  with  the  Gardiners, 
of  Gardiner,  Maine.  Being  on  a  journey  to  visit  her  relations 
in  Indiana,  she  must  come  and  see  that  which  is  now  com- 
manding the  attention  of  the  Protestant  world  —  Kenyon  col- 
lege; would  that  she  could  have  seen  it  in  greater  forward- 
ness. As  it  is,  she  says  she  is  delighted  with  our  prospects. 
and  seems  to  think  that  the  report  which  she  is  now  enabled 
to  give  to  our  friends  in  Boston  will  be  highly  satisfactory. 
This  will  be  of  great  advantage  to  us,  for  there  is  no  person 
whose  judgment  is  more  confided  in,  respecting  these  things, 
than  that  of  this  lady.  Her  ability  to  set  her  judgment  in  a 
clear  light  by  circuit  letters  is  uiKpnstioned.  If  you  ask  how 
I  got  on  in  receiving  and  entertaining  her  here,  with  our  poor 
accommodations,  and  no  one  but  Mrs.  Finley  u  <>ur  mistress, 
I  will  tell  you. 

11 1  sent,  as  soon  as  I  could,  to  Mrs.  Ash,  who.  immediately 


544  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

obeying  my  summons,  came,  while  Miss  Farnum,  accom- 
panied by  our  young  Philadelphia  friend,  was  viewing  the 
wonders  of  the  establishment.  Mrs.  Ash,  by  the  time  we 
returned,  had  done  wonders  by  way  of  setting  things  to  rights 
and  getting  supper.  We  had  a  beef-steak,  chickens,  and 
pork,  roasted  and  boiled  to  our  mind,  and  with  a  clean  table- 
cloth, and  good  company  of  smiling  faces,  the  supper  and  the 
evening  passed  off  pleasantly.     *     *     * 

"We  are  to  have  divine  service  to-day,  for  it  is  the  Lord's 
day.  Oh,  may  we  all  spend  it  to  his  glory  !  Since  the  pres- 
ervation of  our  mill-dam,  and  the  good  done  to  the  amount 
of  many  hundred  dollars  to  our  race,  by  the  late  awful  freshet, 
in  a  manner  almost  miraculous,  I  feel  a  constant  thrill  of  grat- 
itude to  God,  which  I  can  hardly  express ;  never  was  there  a 
more  signal  mercy  !  Like  all  the  rest  which  have  befallen  us} 
the  hand  of  God  was  visible  in  it. 

"  I  have  been  quite  ill  with  a  bad  cold,  and  trie  effects  of 
fatigue,  but  am  now  well  again.  Why  did  you  not  write  by 
Mr.  Carpenter  ?  Ever  your  faithful 

"  Philander  Chase." 

The  writer  of  these  memoirs  has  never  indulged  in  any- 
thing like  panegyric  to  any  of  his  friends,  whether  deceased 
or  living.  Some  tribute,  indeed,  he  has,  in  passing,  paid  to  his 
benefactors,  evidently  more  of  the  heart  than  of  the  head,  as  a 
matter  essential  to  a  due  sense  of  justice  in  his  own  breast. 
Much  in  this  way,  and  actuated  by  the  same  motive,  he  would 
now  mention  the  Gardiner  family,  of  the  State  of  Maine.  In 
so  doing,  there  is  excited  in  his  bosom  a  feeling  of  respect,  as 
well  as  of  gratitude,  seldom  equalled. 

In  this  sentiment  the  Episcopal  Church  has  reason  to  con- 
cur. Who  were  the  first  to  introduce  the  doctrine  and  worship 
of  our  primitive  Church  east  of  Portsmouth?  Who,  with  a 
just  sense  of  their  obligations  to  God,  at  their  own  charges, 
built  and  endowed  a  church  of  uncommon  elegance  and 
beauty,  thereby  rescuing  our  communion  from  the  bad  taste 
of  modern  days  ?  What  family  was  it,  who,  with  their  whole 
hearts,  united  to  promote  the  spiritual  welfare  of  Christ's 
kingdom,  by  their  example,  by  their  piety,  and  labors  of  love  1 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  545 

The  answer  is,   the  Gardiner  family,  of  Gardiner,  Maine. 
The  following  forms  a  part  of  the  writer's  history  :  — 

Miss  Emma  Gardiner  to  Bishop  Chase:  — 

"  Oaklands,  October  25th,  1827. 
"My  Dear  and  Respected  Sir:  — 

"It  was  with  great  pleasure  that  I  received  your  letter,  a 
few  days  since,  enclosing  one  from  Miss  Kenyon.  which  I 
have  heen  expecting  quite  impatiently  for  some  time  past.  I 
shall  always  look  back  upon  your  visit  to  Gardiner  with 
gratitude  and  pleasure ;  nor  forget,  while  bestowing  our  little 
earnings  upon  those  objects  which  present  themselves  imme- 
diately around  us,  that  it  was  you  who  gave  the  first  impulse 
to  our  exertions.  The  amount  that  we  can  distribute  is, 
indeed,  trifling,  but  our  meetings  promote  a  pleasant  social 
feeling,  and  under  the  influence  of  an  intelligent  and  excellent 
clergyman,  (Mr.  Mott,)  whom  we  are  now  so  fortunate  as  to 
have  amongst  us,  I  trust  they  may  excite  religious  feeling, 
and  strengthen  the  tie  which  should  unite  all  who  belong  to 
the  same  Church. 

"I  quite  envied  Miss  Farnum's  visit  to  you  this  fall,  but  I 
trust  it  is  a  pleasure  that  may  be  in  store  for  me  at  some 
period  of  my  life ;  at  least,  I  shall  place  it  among  those  pleas- 
ant things  of  the  future,  which,  even  if  never  realized,  afford 
us  much  pleasant  enjoyment.  It  seems  to  me  that  I  can  sec 
the  venerable  trees  and  beautiful  stream,  which  you  described 
to  us,  with  the  church  and  college  spires  rising  up  amongst 
them,  and  the  youthful  crowds  who  are  to  disseminate  knowl- 
edge and  civilization  through  this  large  and  fertile  section  of 
the  country. 

"  We  felt  extremely  sorry  that  the  dimensions  of  our  church 
should  not  have  been  received  in  season,  but  I  trust  they 
arrived  soon  after  the  date  of  your  letter,  and  not  too  late  to  be 
of  service. 

"  Believe  me,  my  dear  sir,  with  many  sentiments  of  grate- 
ful affection  and  respect,  yours,  tl  . ,  ,,    ^ 

r        J  "  Emma  /.  Gardiner. 

"  P.  S.     We  feel  very  desirous  to  hear  how  far  the  walls  of 

46* 


546  bishop   chase's   reminiscences. 

the  college  have  advanced,  and  if  the  students  are  now  around 
you  at  Gambier  ;  but  I  cannot  ask  you  to  write,  knowing  how 
entirely  your  valuable  time  is  occupied,  but  I  hope  to  hear  of 
all  these  things  from  my  friend,  Charlotte  Farnum." 


In  resuming  the  order  of  his  narrative,  the  writer  finds  a 
chasm  in  his  correspondence,  from  November  to  January. 
Both  he  and  his  family,  however,  remember  that  he  paid  a 
visit  to  Worthington,  officiated  there  several  times  in  preach- 
ing and  administering  the  ordinances,  and  wrote  an  address, 
which  he  delivered  before  the  members  of  the  legislature  of 
Ohio,  at  Columbus.  In  this  address  he  respectfully  requested 
a  letter  of  commendation,  approving  of  an  application  to  Con- 
gress for  a  grant  of  lands  for  the  benefit  of  Kenyon  college. 
To  this  address  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of 
Ohio  readily  acceded. 

This  event  was  a  most  happy  triumph  over  many  preju- 
dices and  sad  predictions  of  certain  defeat,  and  the  writer 
might  well  be  pardoned  in  entertaining  hopes  of  being  equally 
fortunate  in  his  application  at  Washington. 

The  weather  was  exceedingly  wet  and  inclement,  even  for 
that  period  of  the  year.  There  had  been,  though  in  January, 
but  very  little  snow,  but  much  rain,  and  the  waters  were 
very  high  and  the  mud  in  the  beech  woods  was  deep ;  yet  the 
writer  was  not  deterred  from  the  prosecution  of  his  plans,  and 
about  the  middle  of  January  he  set  off  from  Worthington  for 
the  east,  but  must  needs  go  by  way  of  Gambier,  to  make 
arrangements  for  so  long  an  absence.  The  following  are 
extracts,  faithfully  made,  from  a  letter  dated 

"  Ga?nbie?\  January  22;  1828. 
"My  Dear  Wife:  — 

"  This  morning,  (after  daylight  shall  have  shown  me  my 
way,)  I  shall  set  off  for  Washington  city.  By  this  assurance, 
and  the  ocular  evidence  that  it  is  my  hand  that  makes  it,  you 
will  be  certain  that  I  am  yet  alive,  notwithstanding  the 
mighty  winds  and  floods,  unexampled  in  the  memory  of  man, 
through  which  I  have  passed  since  I  left  you.     The  day  I  set 


bishop   chase's   reminiscences.  547 

off  from  Worthington,  I  got  as  far  as  Frinks,  on  Big  Walnut 
creek,  only.  In  the  morning  of  the  next  day,  all  the  trees  in 
the  woods  were  covered  with  ice  to  such  a  degree  of  iceight 
that  it  was  thought  dangerous  to  ride  through  them.  Towards 
night,  however,  I  mounted  my  horse,  after  the  rain  had  melted 
off  a  good  portion  of  the  congealed  element,  and  being  piloted 
by  a  man  who  led  me  round  through  many  a  run  now  made 
into  a  deep  river,  got  as  far  as  Jennings\  five  miles  only. 
Here,  in  a  wet  house,  I  stayed  till  morning,  when  I  found  the 
ground,  the  mud,  and  water,  just  frozen  enough  to  constitute 
the  most  troublesome  travelling  imaginable.  I  made  out, 
however,  to  get  on.  I  crossed  Vernon  river  in  a  canoe,  and 
swam  my  horse — talked  with  Mr.  Norton,  and  came  out  to 
Gambier  before  night.  Here  I  found  Mr.  Douglass  sick  and 
low,  pale  and  emaciated.  Damage  done  by  the  flood  greater 
than  Mr.  Freeman  represented,  yet  thankful  that  it  is  no 
worse.  The  following  Friday  I  spent  in  reconnoitring,  in 
going  to  town,  and  in  giving  instructions.  On  Sunday  I 
administered  the  holy  communion  to  Mr.  Douglass,  and  about 
fourteen  or  fifteen  of  the  parish  communicants.  On  Monday 
I  went  again  to  Mt.  Vernon,  and  paid  our  taxes ;  by-the-bye, 
the  inhabitants  have  petitioned  the  legislature  to  have  them 
remitted,  according  to  the  intention  of  the  law  to  free  colleges. 
I  came  home,  and  have  made  a  final  arrangement  of  the 
college  affairs  in  my  absence.  Mr. is  constituted  gen- 
eralissimo of  the  wbole  troop;  taking  an  inventory  of  all 
things,  he  will  see  that  nothing  is  wasted.  The  head  men 
are  to  meet  every  night,  and  give  an  account,  not  only  of 
themselves,  but  of  the  work  of  every  individual  on  the  prem- 
ises, which  is  to  be  noted  in  the  book. 

"You  said  something  of  dismissing  the  hands  (luring  the 
cold  weather.  I  would  do  so  were  it  not  that  my  plans  for 
next  summer,  especially  that  which  relates  to  my  filing  my 
family  here  in  May.  would  thereby  be  frustrated  The  mill 
must  he  set  going  again;  the  quarry  of  stone  mus1  be  opened, 

and  the  cellars  fol  the  six  houses  must  he  dim;  and  stoned,  or 
we  cannot   conic    hither  until    another    long   year.      In   a    lew 

minutes,  (after  I  shall  have  breakfasted,)  I  shall  set  oil'  for 
Steuhenville.  across  the  country.     Before  I  start  1  shall  com- 


548  bishop  chase's   reminiscences. 

mend  dear   Mr.  Douglass,  I  fear  for  the  last  time  in  his 
presence,  to  the  mercies  of  our  Heavenly  Father. 

"  May  God  bless  you,  and  all,  even  me  a  sinner,  through 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  Amen. 

"  Your  faithful  P.  C." 

Here  the  writer  is  constrained  to  pause;  and  as  he  is 
about,  in  retrospect,  to  plunge  into  a  sea  of  trouble  and  deep 
anxiety,  the  question  forces  itself  on  him,  would  it  not  be 
most  advisable  to  pass  over  in  this  memoir,  as  he  has  already 
done  in  all  other  of  his  communications  to  the  public,  all  the 
particulars  of  his  application  to  Congress,  and  apply  himself 
direct  to  events  more  gilded  with  the  sunshine  of  success? 
True  wisdom  saith  nay.  Man's  life  is  man's  trial,  and  the 
evil  is  as  essential  as  the  good.  The  days  of  his  life,  whether 
few  or  many,  are  directed  by  a  wise  Providence,  so  that  all 
things  may,  by  His  grace,  work  together  for  the  benefit  of  his 
soul. 

Sometimes  the  sunshine,  and  sometimes  the  storm,  are  the 
instruments  of  his  beneficence,  as  cloudy  days  and  weeping 
days  are  as  essential  to  the  growth  of  plants,  and  the  salubrity 
of  the  air,  as  the  brightest  sunshine  and  the  serenest  sky. 
Besides  these  reasons,  not  the  less  true  and  beneficial  because 
they  are  trite,  there  is  another  for  going  over  the  history  of 
soliciting  Congress  for  funds  to  support  Kenyon  college. 

It  will  give  an  inside  view  of  our  national  government — 
what  republicans  are  when  least  influenced  by  party  politics 
— how  much  of  self  reigns  in  every  man's  bosom,  when  most 
he  boasts  of  the  love  of  commonwealth.  Above  all,  it  will 
show  the  fluctuations  of  the  human  heart,  of  an  humble  indi- 
vidual, when  agitated  by  alternate  hope  and  fear,  on  a  sub- 
ject which,  in  his  view,  involved  the  happiness,  temporal  and 
eternal,  of  very  many  of  his  fellow-creatures  in  this  and  com- 
ing generations.  Far  from  claiming  any  merit,  the  letters 
will  interest  only  as  they  are  seen  and  known  to  be  genuine, 
sincere  and  true. 

END    OF   VOL.    I. 


COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARIES 


0315024172 


937.09 


C3863 
v.    1 


5  1954 


